Despite the ongoing civil war that has devastated Sudan since April 2023, the nation’s football team, the Falcons of Jediane, has achieved an extraordinary milestone: qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displacing over 11 million people and leaving countless others facing starvation and preventable diseases. Amid this turmoil, the national team has become a symbol of resilience and hope for a beleaguered nation.

Forced to play their home matches abroad due to the war and with the domestic league suspended, the team has persevered.

“The manager always says: ‘When you’re putting on the shirt, you don’t just do it for your family and yourselves. You do it for everyone else’s family, and everyone in Sudan—to lift their spirits up.’”

Eisa emphasized that playing for Sudan is about more than football. “We know we’re playing for a much bigger cause,” he said, underscoring the unifying power of the sport in a country torn apart by conflict.

The Falcons of Jediane’s qualification for Afcon offers a rare moment of unity and pride for Sudanese people worldwide. Their determination to represent their country under such challenging conditions reflects the spirit of a nation yearning for peace and solidarity.

Rafael Nadal’s illustrious career may have ended on a bittersweet note as the Spanish tennis legend lost his singles match at the Davis Cup in Malaga. In what could be his farewell appearance, Nadal, 38, was defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, leaving Spain trailing in the tie.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, had not played competitively for over three months before being called upon for the opening match of the quarter-final. Despite the raucous support of 11,500 fans at the Palacio de Deportes, Nadal couldn’t find his rhythm against a composed Van de Zandschulp.

“I tried my best, I tried to enjoy and play with the right energy and the right attitude,” Nadal said after the match. “It just didn’t work. There was a possibility that this could happen.”

The match marked a poignant moment for Nadal, whose Davis Cup journey began with a loss in 2004 against Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic. Reflecting on the symmetry of his first and possibly last Davis Cup matches ending in defeat, Nadal said with a smile, “In some ways it is good. We close the circle.”

After the match, Nadal lingered on the court, waving to the crowd and soaking in the atmosphere of what might be his final moments as a professional player.

Nadal, who will officially retire after the Davis Cup, placed no pressure on captain David Ferrer regarding future team selections. With Spain needing to overturn the deficit to continue, the possibility of another match for Nadal remains uncertain.

The loss adds an emotional layer to the end of a legendary career that has spanned nearly two decades, leaving fans with memories of resilience, sportsmanship, and an unparalleled passion for tennis.

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match domestic suspension by the Football Association (FA) for using a racial slur aimed at team-mate Son Heung-min.

The 27-year-old was also fined £100,000 and required to participate in a mandatory in-person education programme. The FA charged Bentancur in September following remarks he made on television in Uruguay in June.

“Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing,” the FA stated.

The suspension means Bentancur will miss several crucial fixtures, including Premier League matches against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea, as well as Tottenham’s League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United. However, he will remain eligible for Spurs’ Europa League games.

Despite the ban, Bentancur has been a vital player for Tottenham this season, featuring in 15 matches and scoring his first goal of the campaign during a loss to Ipswich on November 11.

The FA’s jurisdiction over the incident stems from its occurrence during Bentancur’s personal time while under contract with an English club. This is distinct from the ongoing investigation into Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, who allegedly participated in a discriminatory chant during international duty. Fernandez’s case is being reviewed by FIFA under international regulations.