FRANCEVILLE- Sudan ended a 36-year Africa Cup of Nations goal drought as they came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Angola last night in a Group B match.
Former Manchester United striker Manucho scored five minutes into each half for the Black Antelopes and Mohamed Bashir twice levelled for the Jediane Falcons at the Estadio Nuevo de Malabo.
Angola came into the game anxious to silence critics like Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte, who accused his conquerors of being a route-one team fond of time wasting.
Coach Mohamed Abdalla sprang a surprise by ditching long-time Sudan first choice goalkeeper Almoiz Mahgoub and promoting Akram while fit-again Mohamed Tahir returned in the other change from a team narrowly beaten by Ivory Coast.
Akram did not have a memorable introduction to Cup of Nations football as he picked the ball out of the net only five minutes into the game after an opportunist Manucho goal.
A brass band played endlessly for a small crowd kept cool by overcast conditions at the 15 000-seat stadium, but there was little excitement on the pitch.
