Sudan defeated Libya 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Marrakech on Saturday to finish third at the 2018 Africa Nations Championship.

No extra time was played and Akram was the hero of the night when he saved two penalties to help Sudan take a deserved bronze.

Mohamed Tahir, Mohamed Babikir, Mahmoud Ahmed and Maaz Gesalla converted from the spot for Falcons of Jediane.

Libya duo of Moftah Taktak and Abdelsalam Alaqoub converted their kicks while Almehdi Elhouni and Salem Ablo saw their penalties saved.

Having both lost semi-finals to more illustrious opponents, neither side seemed particularly driven to pick that third place. Libya looked a little livelier, but the game suffered from a lack of chances that made it into a snooze fest.

It took Sudan eight minutes to make their intent when Mohamed headed past Mohamed Nashnush from Taher’s Elhag’s cross from the right.

The closest Libya got in the first stanza got was when Salem Ablo made an insane run through the home defence, but then elected to pass when one-on-one with Akram. The pass caught Ahmed off guard, and he was unable to finish the opportunity.

Both sides went to the tunnel with Sudan leading 1-0 to show for it and coach Zdravko Logarusic’s men continued where they left off in the second stanza and put the Mediterranean Knights under pressure for a second.

Nashnush was called into action when he saved Tahir header from a corner.Libyans came out of the tunnel with pace and put the East Africans on their back foot as Akram produced several saves.

There was no lack of endeavour in the closing stages and on 74th  minute, Akram pulled the best save of the game denying Ablo, who thought he had equalized for his side, with a superb save.

It was only a matter of time that Libyans were going to equalize. And it did come seven minutes from time when Taher’s long cross met the head of Ablo past Akram, forcing the game into penalties.

Sudan: Akram, Abuaagla (Bisha 78’), Morsal, Saifeldin, Tahir, Elhag, Yagoub (Maaz 53’), Babikir, Mahmoud, Ismaeil, Abdalla

Libya: Nashnush, Ajbarah, Muftah (Ablo 46’), Alharash (Saleh 53’), Taktak, Elhouni, Madeen, Etrbi, Bader (Alaqoub 79’), Abushnaf