MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP):

Sudan celebrated their biggest football achievement in more than 40 years yesterday when it clinched a place in the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 2-1 win against Burkina Faso.

Mudather Tayeb scored both of Sudan's goals at Estadio de Bata to squeeze through on goal difference and provide the first high point since winning the African Cup on home soil in 1970.

Sudan finished second in Group B behind cup favourites Ivory Coast, who had already qualified before its mostly second-string team beat Angola 2-0 in Malabo with goals from Emmanuel Eboue and Wilfried Bony.

Angola had only needed a draw to progress.

Ivory Coast will now play co-host Equatorial Guinea and Sudan will face Zambia.

"We know if we leave here not having gone all the way, everything that we have done up to now will be in vain," Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui said. "I'll be really happy when I have reached the goal of really pleasing the Ivorians that are supporting us. There are a lot of prayers behind us."

qualification spot

Sudan, competing with a squad of exclusively home-based players, were winless in nine matches stretching over their three previous African Cup appearances since the 1970 triumph, but needed a victory to have any chance of beating Angola to the second qualification spot.

Despite their status as the second-lowest ranked team at the tournament, Sudan impressed in the 1-0 opening loss to Ivory Coast and have improved from match to match.

Going into the final game, Sudan needed a win against Burkina Faso and hope Côte d'Ivoire beat Angola.

Mudather got Sudan moving in the right direction when he rode a rash challenge from Mamadou Tall and opened his body to stroke the ball past Daouda Diakite in the 33rd minute.

Angola were losing 1-0 at half-time against Ivory Coast, but Sudan still needed another goal in their favour to move into the qualification positions.

News filtered through of a second goal for Ivory Coast against Angola in the second half -- a result that would put Sudan through to the quarter-finals for the first time in nearly half a century.

Mudather scored a second goal for Sudan to calm nerves in the closing stages after pouncing on a moment's hesitation from Diakite to round the keeper and score in the 80th minute.

Issiaka Ouedraogo scored for Burkina Faso in the seventh minute of stoppage time to close the gap, but Sudan held on to their crucial advantage.

Côte d'Ivoire made nine changes to the starting line-up against Angola, with captain Didier Drogba among those rested on the bench.

Eboue scored in the 32nd minute and Bony added a second in the 64th as the cup favourites sealed a third straight victory.