Sudan’s Afcon Qualification Offers Hope Amid Ongoing Civil War

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.