Defending African champions, Nigeria, find themselves bottom in Group A after suffering their second defeat in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Sudan stunned the Super Eagles on a night that Egypt and Cote d'Ivoire also revived their hope in the qualifying campaign.
A Bakry Almadina header in the 41st minute in Khartoum gave Sudan a first Group A win and Nigeria slumped to bottom place with a solitary point halfway through the qualifiers.
Sudan are 34 places below Nigeria in FIFA’s African rankings and started the match as rank outsiders after being well beaten by South Africa and Congo last month.
Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel netted three minutes from time but was clearly offside and he pulled another shot wide as the Super Eagles mounted a late offensive.
The Super Eagles desperately needed a win to kick-start their campaign, after suffering a shock home defeat by Congo Brazzaville and an away draw with South Africa in their opening Group A matches.
Under-fire Coach Stephen Keshi, who is working without a contract, suffered a blow before a ball had even been kicked when Victor Moses was forced to withdraw because of a thigh injury.
The result means that South Africa , who overcame Congo 2-0 in Atlantic city Pointe-Noire, go top of the standings, ending Congo's 100 per cent record.
Record seven-time African champions Egypt won their first points of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 2-0 victory in Botswana.
Egypt began the tie knowing a loss last Friday and another against the same side on Wednesday would have seen them eliminated from the qualifiers.
Egypt are now on three points after two previous losses, while pointless Botswana remain bottom of the group.
Sierra Leone shook off a multitude of off-field problems to stop Cameroun's rival and grind out a draw against the Group D leaders.
