Appiah says Sudan will not be mere participants at AFCON

Sudan national team head coach James Kwesi Appiah has detailed the team’s target when they participate in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The Falcons of Jediane will return to the AFCON for their 11th appearance, having already featured 10 times in the previous editions. Their last participation was in the Cameroon where they failed to make it past the group stages.

Ahead of the Morocco battle where they have been pooled in Group E alongside Algeria, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, the former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah insists they are heading there to compete and not to participate.

Sudan goal is not just to participate

“We qualified for the AFCON and now we are working hard to make sure we strongly compete when the competition kicks off,” said Appiah as quoted by CECAFA website.

“I don’t believe in the idea of taking part in a competition with the mindset that you think you’ll be eliminated in the first round, instead, once you’re in, you aim for the cup rather than coming out with nothing.”

He added: “The goal is not just to participate but to fight for the trophy. I believe with the right mentality, we can achieve it. There’s no point in going to the competition if you don’t aim to win.

“We are going to Morocco with ambition and belief.”

Sudan will start their campaign against the Fennec Foxes of Algeria on Wednesday, December 24 at Moulay Hassan Stadium, before returning for matchday two against Equatorial Guinea at Stade Mohammed V on December 28, Sunday.

Their final group fixture will be against the Stallions of Burkina Faso on Wednesday, December 31 at Stade Mohammed V.

Sudan squad for AFCON 2025;

Goalkeepers: Ali Aboeshren, Mohamed Elnour, Monged Elneel.

Defenders: Mohamed Saeed, Alyayeb Abdelrazig, Mustafa Abdelgadir, Yasser Awad, Bakhit Khamis (Captain), Mazin Mohamedein, Awad Zaid, Ahmed Abdelmonem, Mohamed Kesra.

Midfielders: Abuaagla Abdalla, Walieldin Khidr, Abdelrazig Omer, Ammar Tayfour, Salaheldin Adil, Musa Hussain, Sheddy Ezeldin, Amar Yunis.

Forwards: Yasser Mozamil, Mohamed Abdelrhman, John Otenyal, Mohamed Essa, Elgozoli Hussain, Abobaker Essa, Mohamed Teya.