RABAT: Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah said on Friday that his side’s Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash against Senegal could offer more than a sporting shock, expressing hope that an upset win might help calm the conflict ravaging their country.
Sudan face defending champions Senegal on Saturday in Morocco, having reached the knockout stages of the tournament for only the second time since lifting the trophy in 1970. Their progress has come against extraordinary odds, with the national team forced to live and play in exile because of the ongoing war at home.
Fighting broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary group that traces its roots to the Janjaweed militia used two decades ago in Darfur. The conflict has since killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and triggered widespread famine across the country.
Despite the turmoil, Sudan qualified for the Cup of Nations and now stand one win away from a historic quarter-final berth. Appiah, visibly emotional when asked about the war’s impact, said football had already shown its power to unite.
“Most of the time I try to run away from these questions because the emotions are terrible,” the Ghanaian-born coach told a press conference. “But we are hoping that if we win it will let the war calm down or even cease.”
Appiah recalled a recent World Cup qualifier victory that briefly lifted spirits back home. “There was a game we won when the armies put their guns down and everyone was celebrating,” he said. “Football can change things in this world.”
Sudan will be heavy underdogs against a Senegal side packed with European-based stars, but Appiah hopes belief, resilience and the weight of their cause can fuel a remarkable upset.
