As Leone Stars lost to Ivory Coast and Gabon drew Sudan stand tall

A single penalty goal from Ramadan Alagab handed Sudan a 1-0 win over Sierra Leone in their 2017 Group I Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Khartoum Stadium on Sunday.

This win sees Sudan top Group I with three points ahead of joint second placed Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon who played to a 0-0 draw in the same group on the same day.

It was a largely dull opening 45 minutes with very few chances in front of goal as both teams squandered possession in the final third with poor passing and bad decision making Sudan broke the deadlock through a spot kick.

The game followed a similar pattern in the second 45, but as the half progressed Sudan began to take control of the match.

Finally, in the 75th minute Sudan made their pressure tell when they won a penalty-kick and Alagab made no mistake from the spot to hand the home side the win.

Sudan next Afcon action in September away to Gabon while Sierra Leone will host Cote d’Ivoire.

Defending champions Ivory Coast were held by the Afcon 2017 host Gabon to a goalless draw, the elephants are second behind Sudan with just a point, Gabon is not under any pressure as they have qualified as the host leaving the pressure on Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Cote d ivoire who must follow Gabon as runners up.

Sierra Leone if only they want to keep their dreams alive they must at all cost secure a win against the elephant in Monrovia in September, mind you in the last Afcon qualifiers the Elephants took 6 points and scored seven goals against Leone Stars. But according to Leone Stars Technical Director John Jebbor Sherrington he has a surprise package for Ivory Coast when the two sides will lock horn in September.

I have the squad to upset Ivory Coast we just need more preparations and get the players to assemble on time he boasted.

Meanwhile Sudan will travel to Libreville to face Gabon whiles Leone Stars will host the Elephants in Monrovia, seeing a win for Sudan mean they stand a chance to follow Gabon to the Afcon 2017 nations Cup.

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