Sudan national football team

The Sudan national football team (Arabic: منتخب السودان الوطني لكرة القدم‎) represents Sudan in international football and is controlled by the Sudan Football Association, the governing body for football in Sudan. Its home ground is Khartoum Stadium in the capital Khartoum. In 1957, it was one of the three teams to participate in the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations, the other two being Egypt and Ethiopia.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Sudan women's national football team.

Sudan
Nickname(s)Falcons of Jediane
AssociationSudan Football Association (SFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCECAFA
(East & Central Africa)
Head coachHubert Velud
CaptainAkram El Hadi Salim
Most capsMuhannad El Tahir (71)
Top scorerNasr El-Din Abbas (27)
Home stadiumKhartoum Stadium
FIFA codeSDN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 127 (10 December 2020)[1]
Highest74 (December 1996)
Lowest164 (July 2017)
First international
 Sudan 5–1 Ethiopia 
(Sudan; 13 May 1956)[2]
Biggest win
 Sudan 15–0 Muscat and Oman
(Cairo, Egypt; 2 September 1965)
Biggest defeat
 South Korea 8–0 Sudan 
(Seoul, South Korea; 10 September 1979)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances8 (first in 1957)
Best resultChampions, 1970

Sudan is one of the oldest teams in Africa and has a rich history, especially in the 1950s and up to the 70s. They won the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations as hosts with Mustafa Azhari as their best player. After beating Ethiopia 3–0, and a 1–0 defeat against Ivory Coast, they secured a place in the semi-final by beating Cameroon 2–1. They overcame Egypt 2–1 after extra time in the semi-final, and won 1–0 against Ghana in the final to become African champions. Since then, Sudan has witnessed a significant decline and deterioration in football at the country, thus the country is unable to repeat the feat they used to achieve like before.

History

Beginning and an African giant (1946–1970)

The Sudan Football Association was founded in 1936 and thus it became one of the oldest football associations to exist in Africa. However, before the foundation of the Football Association, Sudan had started experiencing football brought to the country by the British colonizers since early 20th century via Egypt. Some of the finest Sudanese clubs were also founded at that time, including Al-Hilal Omdurman, Al-Merrikh, which led to popularization of football in the country. The Khartoum League became the first national league to be played in Sudan, laying ground for the future development of Sudanese football.

Being experienced early with football, Sudan was quick to affiliate itself with FIFA in 1948, and soon after, the Sudanese officials were instrumental, along with Ethiopian, South African and Egyptian counterparts, forming the Confederation of African Football in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum in 1957.[3] Following the establishment of CAF, Sudan participated in the 1957 African Cup of Nations, the first historic Africa Cup of Nations which Sudan was host. The national team finished third, as South Africa was banned over apartheid.

During that early era, Sudan produced some of the finest players, most notably Mustafa Azhari, the captain of Sudan during this period; Nasr El-Din Abbas, who became Sudan's top scorer in the country's football team; Siddiq Manzul, who was an instrumental leader in Sudan's forward; Ali Gagarin with his meteoric ability. Sudan then managed to achieve its greatest feat ever in the history, winning the 1970 African Cup of Nations, their only African trophy up to date.[3]

Decline (1970–2008)

With the retirement of a significant number of Sudanese football star at the time, the national team of Sudan deteriorated. Sudan participated in 1972 and 1976 editions, but Sudan wasn't able to get out of the group stage. At the time, Sudan was plagued by the first and second civil wars that led to football in the country being largely unable to retain its status. Likewise, Sudan also suffered from series of political upheavals that drained the country's football resources.[3] As such, Sudan struggled to qualify for another AFCON, and the country has yet to qualify for a single FIFA World Cup. Only Libya being the other major Arab country in Africa to have never achieved the feat. Often Sudan participated in AFCON qualification and majority finished in bottom or near bottom of their qualification. This was totally contrasted to their successes in club competition, as Sudanese clubs were omnipresent in CAF Champions League.[3]

Small resurgence (2008–2012)

On 9 September 2007, Sudan managed to achieve a historic feat, beating African powerhouse and World Cup participant Tunisia 3–2 at home, sealing Sudan's position as top finisher in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group 4. This meant Sudan had finally returned to the AFCON after 32 years, which was seen as a major success. In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, their first in 32 years, Sudan was grouped in group C, which they shared with Egypt, Cameroon and Zambia. With an entirely inexperienced squad, Sudan lost all three competitive games with the 0–3 result, finishing bottom of their group.

As the fortune increased, Sudan reached the final round of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, which they had a chance to repeat the feat. Unfortunately, Ghana, Benin and Mali proved too good for Sudan, and the Sudanese finished last with only a point, missing out the chance to reach AFCON and World Cup.

In the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Sudan was once again in the same group with Ghana, alongside Swaziland and Congo. It was a success as Sudan lost only one game and reached the tournament with an emphatic fashion, including a famous away draw to the Ghanaians which had already reached the quarter-finals of earlier 2010 FIFA World Cup. Sudan then followed with a bigger success in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, where in group B, Sudan made an outstanding performance, finishing second behind powerhouse Ivory Coast, overcame Angola by goal difference to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 1970. Unfortunately, Sudan found itself against a rising Zambian side in the last eight, and lost 0–3. Zambia would go on to win the tournament for the first time.

Downfall (2013–present)

In 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Sudan suffered a huge blow when they lost to neighbor Ethiopia by away goal, losing 0–2 in Addis Ababa after an insane 5–3 thrilling win at home, thus missed out the competition. Since then, Sudan continues to struggle and as for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, they have not returned to the big stage.

Honours

Competitive record

Managerial history
  • Salih Rajab (1956)
  • Jozsef Hada (1957–1959)
  • Lozan Kotsev (1959-1964)
  • jiři Starosta (1964-1968)
  • Mohammed Hassan Kheiri (1968–1970)
  • Abd Al Fattah Hamed (1970-1974)
  • Ivan Yanko (1974–1976)
  • Ibrahim Kabair (1976–1978)
  • Burkhard Ziese (1978–1980)
  • Sharafeldin Ahmed Musa (1998-1999)
  • Fawzi El Mardi (1999-2000)
  • Zoran Đorđević (2000)
  • Ahmed Babiker (2000-2002) (2010)(2015)
  • Wojciech Lazarek (2002–2004)
  • Mohamed Abdallah (2005–2008)(2010–2015)(2016)
  • Stephen Constantine (2009–2010)
  • Hamdan Hamed (2016)
  • Zdravko Logarušić (2017–2019)
  • Hubert Velud (2020-)

Recent results and fixtures

2019
13 November 2019 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group C Sudan  4–0  São Tomé and Príncipe Omdurman, Khartoum State, Sudan
21:00 UTC+2
Stadium: Al-Hilal Stadium
17 November 2019 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group C South Africa  1–0  Sudan Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2
Stadium: Orlando Stadium
8 December 2019 2019 CECAFA Cup Sudan  1–1  Zanzibar Kampala, Uganda
13:30 UTC+3 Muntasir  90' Khamis  55' Stadium: Lugogo Stadium
Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia)
10 December 2019 2019 CECAFA Cup Sudan  1–2  Kenya Kampala, Uganda
13:30 UTC+3 Namir  30' Hassan  65'
  • Wamalwa  76'
 Stadium: Lugogo Stadium
Referee: Tsegay Teklu Mogos (Eritrea)
14 December 2019 2019 CECAFA Cup Sudan  0–0  Tanzania Kampala, Uganda
16:00 UTC+3 Stadium: Lugogo Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Diraneh Guedi (Djibouti)

2020
25 January 2020 Friendly Eritrea  0–1  Sudan Asmara, Eritrea
16:00 UTC+3 Yasir  30' Stadium: Cicero Stadium
23 September 2020 Friendly Chad  2–3  Sudan N'Djamena, Chad
16:30 UTC+1
  • Karim  25'
  • Bashir  40'
  • Mohamed  10' (pen.)
  • Yasir  62'
  • Moaaz  68'
 Stadium: Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya
25 September 2020 Friendly Chad  0–2  Sudan N'Djamena, Chad
16:30 UTC+1
  • Abuaagla  45'
  • Mohamed  75'
 Stadium: Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya
9 October 2020 Friendly Tunisia  3–0  Sudan Tunis, Tunisia
18:00 UTC+1
Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ibrahim Nour El Din (Egypt)
12 October 2020 Friendly Togo  1–1  Sudan Tunis, Tunisia
15:00 UTC+1
  • Mohamed  93'
 Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium
6 November 2020 Friendly Ethiopia  2–2  Sudan Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
16:00 UTC+3
  • Mohamed  52'
  • Athar  60'
 Stadium: Addis Ababa Stadium
12 November 2020 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group C Ghana  2–0  Sudan Cape Coast, Ghana
16:00 UTC±0
Stadium: Cape Coast Sports Stadium
Referee: Maguette N'Diaye (Senegal)
17 November 2020 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group C Sudan  1–0  Ghana Omdurman, Sudan
15:00 UTC+2
  • Abdelrahman  90+2'
 Stadium: Al-Hilal Stadium
Referee: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Ethiopia on 6 November 2020. and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group C Match against Ghana on 12 and 17 November 2020.

  • Caps and goals are correct as of: 17 November 2020, after the match against Ghana
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
16 1GK Akram El Hadi Salim (Captain) (1987-02-27) 27 February 1987 41 0 Alamal SC Atbara
1 1GK Ali Abu Eshrein (1989-12-06) 6 December 1989 12 0 Al-Hilal Club
21 1GK Monjed Alneel (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 1 0 Al-Merrikh SC
4 2DF Amir Kamal (1992-07-24) 24 July 1992 53 1 Al-Merrikh SC
3 2DF Faris Abdalla (1994-02-19) 19 February 1994 38 1 Al-Hilal Club
15 2DF Athar El Tahir (1996-10-24) 24 October 1996 33 7 Smouha SC
18 2DF Samawal Merghani (1991-10-22) 22 October 1991 15 0 Al-Hilal Club
5 2DF Ahmed Wadah (2000-02-12) 12 February 2000 10 0 Al-Hilal Club
19 2DF Salah Nimer (1987-01-01) 1 January 1987 9 0 Al-Merrikh SC
20 2DF Ahmed Adam Mohamed (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 8 0 Al-Merreikh SC
22 2DF Hussein Ibrahim (1998-09-23) 23 September 1998 7 0 Al Khartoum SC
23 3MF Nasr Eldin El Shigail (1985-04-07) 7 April 1985 55 0 Al-Hilal Club
7 3MF Ramadan Agab (1986-02-20) 20 February 1986 43 6 Al-Merrikh SC
2 3MF Abuaagla Abdalla (1993-03-11) 11 March 1993 38 2 Al-Hilal Club
11 3MF Moaaz Abdelraheem (1989-04-25) 25 April 1989 28 2 Al Khartoum SC
17 3MF Ahmed Hamid (1993-03-07) 7 March 1993 15 1 Al-Merrikh SC
13 3MF Mohamed Elrasheed (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 13 1 Al-Merrikh SC
6 3MF Mohamed Mokhtar (1996-03-08) 8 March 1996 7 0 Al-Hilal Club
12 3MF Diaaeldin Mahjoub (1995-05-30) 30 May 1995 5 0 Al-Merrikh SC
8 3MF Ammar Taifour (1997-04-12) 12 April 1997 1 0 Al-Merrikh SC
9 4FW Seifeldin Malik (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 19 6 Al-Merrikh SC
10 4FW Mohamed Abdelrahman (1993-07-10) 10 July 1993 9 5 Al-Hilal Club
14 4FW Walaa Eldin Yaqoub (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 8 3 Al-Ahly Shendi

Records
As of 17 November 2020
Most capped players
# Player Caps Goals Career
1Muhannad El Tahir71162004-
2Haitham Mustafa6262000-2012
3Samir Salih5631963-1973
4Nasr Eldin El Shigail5502007-
5El Muez Mahgoub5302002-2015
Amir Kamal5312010-
7Nasr El-Din Abbas52271963-1972
8bader Eldin Abdalla Galag5172002-
Mudathir El Tahir51122007-
10Saif Eldin Ali Idris Farah4942007-2015
Top goalscorers
# Player Goals Caps Career
1Nasr El-Din Abbas27521963-1972
2Haytham Tambal20422003-2011
3Ali Gagarin19331967-1977
4Muhannad El Tahir16712004-
5Faisal Agab13282000-2012

References
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. "World Football Elo Ratings: Sudan". World Football Elo Ratings. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  3. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/992747-world-football-the-state-of-football-in-sudan
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