United Arab Republic v Sudan was the decisive match of group stage at the 1959 African Cup of Nations. The match was played at the Prince Farouk Stadium in Cairo on 29 May 1959. Unlike other editions, the 1959 winner was determined by a group stage, with three teams playing in round-robin format, instead of a knockout stage. This was the first edition to feature a final group stage and one of two, alongside the 1976 African Cup of Nations, to promote this format.
Both teams had defeated Ethiopia but the goal difference was in favour of United Arab Republic, who had beaten Ethiopia 4–0 while Sudan had won 1–0. Therefore, Sudan needed to win the last match to claim the title of champions of Africa; any other result would have the United Arab Republic retain the title they had won (as Egypt) in 1957.
United Arab Republic beat Sudan 2–1, therefore keeping first place in the group and winning their second consecutive title.
Background The road to the title in the 1959 Africa Cup of Nations was unique, with a round-robin group instead of a knockout stage. The three competition teams were United Arab Republic (host country), Sudan and Ethiopia.
United Arab Republic and Sudan won their matches against Ethiopia, United Arab Republic by 4–0 to top the group, ahead of Sudan who won by 1–0.
Match
Match details
GK Adel HekalRB Tarek SelimCB Yaken HusseinCB Rifaat El-FanagilyLB Taha IsmailRM Mimi El-SherbiniCM Mahmoud El-GoharyCM Sherif El-FarLM Saleh SelimCF Essam BaheegCF Alaa El-HamoulyManager: Pál Titkos GK Samir Mohammed AliRB Ahmed Mutawakil Mohammed El-BashirCB Hassan Mohammed Al-AbdLB Ibrahim Mohammed Ali 'Ibrahim El-Kabir'RH Abbas Al-Hedi SyamLH Suleiman Difalla Al-MahinaOR Mahmoud Abd ZoubeirIR Boraî BashirCF Mutalib Abdel-Nasser 'Drissa'IL Siddiq ManzulOL Abdullah WahagaManager: József Háda
Aftermath
References