Amid a political divide that is tearing Sudan apart, the players of the “Falcons of Jediane” have found one shared space that unites them: the homeland. They have created an island of safety on the pitch, where politics recede behind a single dream: bringing joy to a people exhausted by war, as they declare with one voice: “Here, we stand united.”
It is impossible to speak about the origins of the Africa Cup of Nations without mentioning Sudan, as Dr. Abdel Halim Mohamed was among the founding figures of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), established in Khartoum on 8 February 1957. Just two days later, the inaugural edition of the tournament kicked off at the Municipal Stadium with three participating teams: Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, with Egypt lifting the trophy.
One title, then a painful decline
In 1970, Sudan again hosted the seventh edition of the tournament, with matches played in Khartoum and Wad Madani, and for the first time it was broadcast on television. Sudan were crowned champions after defeating Ghana 1–0 in the final, marking their only continental triumph to date.
Since that title, Sudan have vanished from the podium at the Africa Cup of Nations, and even their appearances at the finals have become rare. What happened?
Sudanese journalist Amer Titawi explains that “Sudanese football suffered a major shock in the mid‑1970s when President Jaafar Nimeiry announced the policy of ‘popular sport’, dissolving the licenses of major clubs such as Al‑Hilal and Al‑Merrikh after crowd trouble in a match between them in April 1976.” He adds in remarks to DW that “traditional competitions were halted, and sport was turned into an unsuccessful district‑based activity, prompting leading players, coaches and officials to emigrate to the Gulf, which broke the continuity between generations, even though the clubs were reinstated early the following year.”
Sudan returns in spite of war
Because of the war, which the United Nations has described as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis”, the Sudanese national team played all its qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup away from home. Despite this, the team secured qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the Ivory Coast edition, and now competes in Group E alongside Algeria, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, beginning their campaign on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, against Algeria.
Cohesion in the midst of division
Despite the tragic situation and political fragmentation in Sudan, the national team appeared strikingly cohesive at the recent Arab Cup in Qatar. How was this achieved?
Sudanese journalist Mohamed Adam Indi says: “The players share a clear, single identity: representing Sudan as a footballing nation, not as a political project. In a polarized environment, the national team becomes a space where the players feel Sudanese only, far removed from military or political affiliations.” He adds in a written message to DW: “The coaching and administrative staff played a decisive role in neutralizing politics inside the camp, by banning political discussions, focusing on tactics and discipline, and creating a professional routine that limits the influx of outside news. This isolation turned the pitch into a psychological refuge for the players.”
Responsibility fosters solidarity
The France‑based journalist points out that “a sense of responsibility toward an exhausted population has generated internal solidarity: we play for the people, not for any faction.” He continues: “Most of the players have experienced harsh economic conditions, migration, or league suspensions, which has strengthened their human bonds beyond any political disagreement.” Adam Indi concludes in his message to DW: “There is an absence of political polarization within Sudanese football, and there are leaders inside the squad who have helped maintain discipline and cohesion. That is why the team seems to be saying: we may differ outside the pitch, but on it, we are one.”
Amer Titawi agrees that “the Sudan team unites Sudanese people.” He explains: “At the Arab Cup in Doha, the presence of the Sudanese community in Qatar and the Gulf was remarkable; the stands were packed with constant chanting, and the results were not the main thing—rather, it was about standing behind the team for the sake of a united Sudan, beyond regional and local loyalties.”
Preparation challenges for the Africa Cup
Titawi notes that the circumstances surrounding Sudan’s preparations are unlike those of any other team, as the absence of domestic competition “narrows the options available to Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah.” He adds that using the full‑strength squad in the Arab Cup immediately before the continental tournament—at a time when teams like Morocco and Egypt relied on second‑string sides—put enormous pressure on the players, some of whom “played six matches in around ten days, including four at the Arab Cup and two in the Champions League, an extremely demanding schedule, especially with travel between Rwanda, Algeria and Congo.” He points out that seven key players took part in those matches, and in one case Al‑Hilal players arrived in Doha from African competition at dawn on the very day of an Arab Cup match, making peak physical readiness very difficult.
The Sudanese journalist also draws attention to injuries affecting three of the most prominent players: captain Ramadan Agab, goalkeeper Mohamed Mostafa, and striker Saif‑Eddin Malik, in addition to the challenge of integrating newly called‑up professionals. “They did not take part in the Arab Cup and may have been obliged to stay with their clubs, and the preparation period was short and limited.”
A tough group, but the dream lives on
Despite the difficulty of a group that includes Algeria, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, Titawi believes Sudan can still reach the round of 16, even if only as one of the best third‑placed teams. Yet he acknowledges realistically that “the team’s circumstances do not allow it to go far in the tournament,” noting that hopes rest on collective performance rather than on an individual star, especially as top scorer Mohamed Abdelrahman has just returned from injury and failed to score at the Arab Cup, where the team struggled in front of goal. Even so, and despite the strength of their opponents, the dream of the Falcons of Jediane reaching the second round remains within reach.
Algeria’s readiness also on the line against Sudan
For Algeria, this encounter is also the first real continental test for Bosnian‑Swiss coach Vladimir Petković with the “Fennecs”. Algerian fans hope their “Desert Warriors” will use this match to rediscover their continental sparkle and launch a genuine push toward the title.
The Algerian Football Federation appointed Vladimir Petković at the end of February 2024, fully aware that the task would not be easy given the expectations of Algerian supporters and the legacy left by his predecessor, Djamel Belmadi, known as a coach who delivers both performance and results. Judging by his record so far, Petković has largely met the federation’s expectations: he has led Algeria back to the World Cup after a 12‑year absence by securing a place at the 2026 finals, and steered the team to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. In 21 matches in charge, he has recorded 16 wins, 3 draws and only 2 defeats, a highly satisfactory return.
On the back of this record, the “Fennecs” now approach a showdown of great significance for both coach and players, as it will offer a clearer indication of how ready this group is to go deep into this major continental event.
Source: Al‑Yurae, DW, AFP.
