Nairobi:
Sudan entered the Champs of African Nations (Chan) as outsiders – the home championship is almost non -existent in a country separated from the Civil War and the team had only a few days together.
However, Jediane’s Falcons defied the chances of reaching Chan’s semifinals, in which teams can only choose from players in the National League competitions.
Sudan has a domestic championship, but only.
Sudan had not kept a substantial domestic championship competition from the clash in 2023 between the country’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has killed tens of thousands.
The country’s two most successful clubs, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, play about 5,000 kilometers west in the Mauritanian League.
After a tranquility in the battles earlier this year, they returned and joined the other six clubs for a month of Sudan Elite League.
The mini league was organized by the African football administrative body, to allow Sudan Select clubs for Continental Championships next season. He also created a chan group.
This team had only four days to train before their arrival on the chan, with Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah openly scared that his players could not be competitive with so little practice.
But the side found a way, pulling twice and hit Nigeria 4-0 to overcome their team.
Their quarter-finals against Algeria also ended the level, but Sudan won 4-2 for sanctions.
Sudan is matching the previous best in 2011 when they hosted the tournament and reached the last four.
The midfielder Abdel Raouf attributes the team’s success to the technical staff led by Appiah, the former coach of the Ghana national team.
“The secret is simple: teamwork,” said Raouf, who scored two goals in the Cafonline.
“Everyone in this team is working for a goal – to lift Sudan high at the African stage.”
Goalkeeper Mohamed Abooja, who rescued two spots against Algeria, praised Appiah.
“The way he gives instructions, the way he motivates us,” Abooja said. “It’s always so calm. And that helps us a lot”
Under Appiah’s guidance, Sudan has also cut the cut for the 2025 African Cup in Morocco and is third in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a point of Dr Congo’s leaders.
Their quarter -finals have not only celebrated in Sudan, but throughout the area, coming after the trio of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenyas, they failed to move on to the next round.
“It was a sad night for the East African teams who were not lucky to survive in the quarter -finals,” said Kenya Athletic journalist Elias Makori.
“But Sudan has saved the face of (of) Eastern Africans, making the last group standing.”
Sudan faces Madagascar, the square conquerors of Kenya, in the first semifinal at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday.
Morocco meets Senegal in the second semifinal at Mandela Stadium in Kampala. The final will be played at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on August 30.
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