Angola twice threw away the lead as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sudan in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group C encounter at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo on Thursday.
Palancas Negras could have all but sealed their qualification for the quarter-finals with a win, but instead face having to get points from their final pool game against Cote d'Ivoire on Monday.
Former Manchester United striker Manucho was the hero for Angola, netting twice, while Sudan's goals both came from Al-Hilal forward Mohamed Ahmed Bashir.
A great piece of individual play saw Manucho give Angola the lead inside the first five minutes. His tenacity saw him poach the ball on the right side of the penalty and he then showed great strength and skill to drive into the box and fire home a low shot across goal.
It was the perfect start for the Southern African side and one that helped to settle the nerves as they began comfortably to pass the ball around.
But Sudan began gradually to come more and more into the contest as the half drew on and netted a deserved equaliser on 33 minutes.
Bashir headed home a right-wing cross from Mudathir El Tahir for Sudan's first goal in an Africa Cup of Nations finals match since March 1976, when they drew 1-1 with Zaire.
Angolan star Djalma had an effort cleared off the line before half-time as they finished the first period the stronger side.
There was an introduction at the break for new Angolan star, Nando Rafael, who only days ago received permission from FIFA to switch nationalities from Germany, for whose Under-21 side he played 13 times.
But his evening would last just 26 minutes before he hobbled off injured.
Angola were awarded a clear-cut penalty five minutes into the second half when Hamid Nazar was guilty of felling Djalma in the area. Manucho made no mistake from the spot to score his third goal of the finals so far.
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The forward was fortunate to escape censure later when he appeared deliberately to drive his elbow into Nagm Eldin. One can only assume the match officials missed it.
A defensive calamity allowed Sudan to draw level when substitute José Pierre Vunguidica, only on the pitch for two minutes for Rafael, tried to chest the ball down to a teammate in the box. The ball squirmed lose and Bashir netted his second.
It really was a poor goal to concede and coach Lito Vidigal will be livid with the generosity of the defence.
Manucho almost completed a hat-trick with an audacious effort from inside his own half as he spotted Sudan goalkeeper Akrim Salim off his line, but the ball sailed just over the bar in the final chance of the night.
