United Arab Republic v Sudan (1959 African Cup of Nations)

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 Africa Cup of Nations, 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.

1959 African Cup of Nations Final

Event	1959 African Cup of Nations
United Arab Republic Sudan 2 1
Date	29 May 1959
Venue	Prince Farouk Stadium, Cairo
Referee	Zivko Bajic (Yugoslavia)
Attendance	30,000
← 1957 1962 →

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.^[1][2]

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.^[3][4]

Positions before the final round

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
United Arab Republic	1	1	0	0	4	0	+4	2
Sudan	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	2
Ethiopia	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Match

Match details

29 May 1959

United Arab Republic	2–1	Sudan
Baheeg   12', 89'	Report	Manzul   65'

Prince Farouk Stadium, Cairo

Attendance: 30,000

Referee: Zivko Bajic (Yugoslavia)

United Arab Republic

Sudan

GK   Adel Hekal RB   Tarek Selim CB   Yaken Hussein CB   Rifaat El-Fanagily LB   Taha Ismail RM   Mimi El-Sherbini CM   Mahmoud El-Gohary CM   Sherif El-Far LM   Saleh Selim CF   Essam Baheeg CF   Alaa El-Hamouly Manager:   Pál Titkos

GK   Samir Mohammed Ali RB   Ahmed Mutawakil Mohammed El-Bashir CB   Hassan Mohammed Al-Abd LB   Ibrahim Mohammed Ali 'Ibrahim El-Kabir' RH   Abbas Al-Hedi Syam LH   Suleiman Difalla Al-Mahina OR   Mahmoud Abd Zoubeir IR   Boraî Bashir CF   Mutalib Abdel-Nasser 'Drissa' IL   Siddiq Manzul OL   Abdullah Wahaga Manager:   Josef Hada

Aftermath

Final positions

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
United Arab Republic	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5	4
Sudan	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	2
Ethiopia	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Football - Match CAF Nations Cup : Egypt vs. Sudan". Footballdatabase.eu. 1959-05-29. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
2. "African Nations Cup 1959". Rsssf.com. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
3. . www.koorasudan.net. Archived from the original on 2013-08-29.
4. "نهائي كاس إفريقيا 1959 السودان مصر". YouTube. 2014-01-30. Retrieved 2016-08-15.