After the 4th week in the AFCON qualifiers, Sudan is in second place in their group with 7 points. A single victory will guarantee them advancement to the next round. Depending on their rivals’ performances, they might not even need it.
In their most recent match, they defeated their opponents, Ghana, 2-0, leaving Ghana stuck at 2 points. Ghana, one of the tournament’s strong teams, was devastated by the result.
In an interview with the BBC, forward Abobaker Eisa expressed that this victory held much more than just sporting significance—it carried a profound meaning.
Since April of last year, the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused millions of citizens to suffer. Many lives have been lost, people are starving, and countless others have been forced to flee.
This victory, following a war that has caused so much pain for hundreds of thousands, became a rare source of joy for the local population living in fear. Abobaker Eisa shared his thoughts on the matter, stating:
“With the things that are going on in Sudan right now, the civil war, we’re playing a much bigger game,” Eisa told Newsday on the BBC World Service.
“People are in the streets to watch the games, and this is giving them a lot of joy amongst the chaos that’s been going on. It makes them feel proud.
“Obviously we are hoping that our country gets better, and hopefully we could be a positive thing for our country as well.”
