AFCON 2025: Sudan is playing for hope - coach Kwesi Appiah

Sudan’s head coach James Kwesi Appiah says his team are being driven by more than football as they prepare to face Senegal in the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, carrying with them the hopes of a nation scarred by war.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s knockout clash, the Ghanaian tactician acknowledged the scale of the challenge but insisted his players are motivated by a deeper purpose: to bring a sense of hope and unity to people back home.

Sudan has endured years of civil conflict, with thousands killed and millions displaced. For the national team, the impact has been deeply personal, forcing them to play all their AFCON qualifiers outside the country and live far away from their families.

Kwesi Appiah said success on the continental stage could offer a rare moment of relief and pride for Sudanese people living through hardship.

“We are hoping that if we win [AFCON] it will let the war calm down or even cease,” he said.
“It’s very hard on us to live away from our families, from our homes. We are trying to cope with these circumstances, trying to please our fans, and hopefully things will get better. Everything we are doing on the pitch is an attempt to make things better for our people.”

Despite the instability at home, Sudan have defied expectations to reach the knockout phase of the tournament, a significant achievement for a side operating under extraordinary pressure.

Their opponents, Senegal, are among Africa’s strongest teams, but Kwesi Appiah believes his players’ emotional drive could make a difference.

For many Sudanese supporters, football has become one of the few remaining symbols of national unity. As the team steps onto the pitch, they do so not just chasing victory, but representing a country longing for peace.

Sudan’s AFCON 2025 journey continues against Senegal, with a nation’s hopes resting on 90 minutes of football.