Sudan national football team

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]

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]

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.

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.

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