Africa Cup of Nations Gabon Equatorial Guinea - The Desert Hawks of Sudan, as the country's national team is known, played goalless with the Qatari division two side Musaimir in Doha on Wednesday in their second friendly in as many days, as they wrapped up their training camp in the Gulf state. On Tuesday, the Sudanese beat newly-promoted Qatari club Al Jaish 2-1 in their first friendly since arriving in Qatar for camping, in preparation for the 28th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations due to start 21 Jan and run through 12 Feb. in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Three other friendlies are scheduled for Sudan before the Nations Cup - against Tunisia in Dubai 9 Jan; Senegal in Dakar 12 Jan and then against co-host Gabon just before the kickoff of the Nations cup.

Sudan, the host of the Nations Cup in 1957, has only won the biennial Nations Cup once, in 1970 when it hosted it for the second time.

While it is not considered a favourite to lift the 2012 Nations Cup, the country is expected to pull its weight in a tough group that includes favoured Cote d'Ivoire, 2010 host Angola and fast-rising Burkina Faso.

The Desert Hawks will seek to pluck the eyes of the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire when the two clash in their Nations Cup group B opener 22 Jan.

Pana 04/01/2012