Let’s try a different approach:
In Photoshop make square image of desired map.
Then
Filter>Distort>Spherize -100% (minus)
and save new map.
In AE make comp with double horizontal size of your map (height stays same), import your map on timeline, double its horizontal size too,then apply
Effect>Distort>Polar Coordinates – Polar to Rect 100%
Adjust vertical position and vertical scale as desired and add a solid beneath to fill the gap. Precompose. Use this composition as a map for CC Sphere. Rotate on x axis 90 and that’s it.
3626_equirectangularmap.rar.zip
Example is lowres, png was small
