Sudan’s unlikely football joy as war tears the country apart

Football as an emotional lifeline

While Sudan continues to face one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises, its men’s national football team has become an unexpected source of unity and pride. Competing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the squad is playing with a sense of responsibility that extends far beyond the pitch.

According to Deutsche Welle, the team’s qualification and early success have resonated deeply with Sudanese communities, many of whom have been displaced or affected by ongoing violence since fighting erupted in April 2023.

A long awaited victory on African soil

Sudan secured a 1,0 win over Equatorial Guinea in their second group match at AFCON 2025, a result that confirmed their place in the last 16 of the tournament. According to DW’s reporting from Casablanca, the victory sparked emotional scenes both inside the stadium and thousands of kilometres away in Sudan.

The win marked Sudan’s first Africa Cup of Nations victory since 2012 and only their second at the tournament since they lifted the trophy on home soil in 1970, DW reported.

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Celebrations were seen in fan gatherings across Sudan, where supporters waved flags, sounded car horns and chanted the country’s name, scenes that have become increasingly rare during the war years.

“Playing and winning games makes our people at home happy. We try to put a little smile on their faces despite the difficulties they are going through,” midfielder Mohamed Abuaagla told DW.

War casting a long shadow

Since April 2023, Sudan has been locked in a violent power struggle between the military and the Rapid Support Forces. According to Deutsche Welle, the conflict has been marked by mass killings, sexual violence and ethnically motivated attacks.

The United Nations has described the situation as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. UN estimates say more than 40,000 people have been killed, while aid organisations believe the true number may be significantly higher. Millions have been displaced, and famine and disease continue to spread in several regions.

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“The war has destroyed many parts of the country and killed far too many innocent people,” Abuaagla said in comments reported by DW.

Playing for a nation in pain

National team coach Kwesi Appiah has consistently framed the tournament as a mission of solidarity rather than pure competition. According to DW, he has urged his players to remember those suffering back home every time they step onto the pitch.

“I keep telling the players, fight for your people back home. Make sure that the people in war torn Sudan can feel at least a moment of joy,” Appiah told the outlet.

For many Sudanese following the tournament from abroad, the team represents more than sporting success. Idris Ahmed, who assists Sudanese fans in Morocco, told DW that the players are carrying the hopes of an entire nation.

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“The team plays for all people in and outside Sudan,” he said.

Hope carrying the weight of history

Sudan’s football history includes a proud past, most notably their AFCON triumph in 1970. According to DW, that legacy remains a powerful reference point for fans and players alike, even as the country faces extraordinary hardship.

Appiah has not scaled back his ambitions, insisting after the win in Casablanca that the team’s goal is to win the tournament, not merely advance past the group stage.

Whether or not that dream is realised, supporters say the team has already achieved something meaningful.

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“This team brings us joy, despite the pain we have suffered in Sudan over the last three years,” fan Badr Eddine Zambel told DW.

Sources: Deutsche Welle, United Nations

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