In the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Sudan was once again in the same group with Ghana, alongside Swaziland and Congo. It was a success as Sudan lost only one game and reached the tournament with an emphatic fashion, including a famous away draw to the Ghanaians which had already reached the quarter-finals of earlier 2010 FIFA World Cup. Sudan then followed with a bigger success in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, where in group B, Sudan made an outstanding performance, finishing second behind powerhouse Ivory Coast, overcame Angola by goal difference to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 1970. Unfortunately, Sudan found itself against a rising Zambian side in the last eight, and lost 0–3. Zambia would go on to win the tournament for the first time.