Sudan's Participation in Afcon Brings Hope Amid Civil War
Sudan's participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is instilling hope among the nation's citizens amidst ongoing civil conflict, according to forward Abobaker Eisa.
The country has been experiencing what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis since April 2023, triggered by a power struggle between the army and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Force (RSF).
More than 150,000 lives have been lost, and over 12 million people have been displaced, with reports of widespread famine and genocide in the western Darfur region.
The conflict has compelled Sudan to conduct all their qualifying matches away from home, yet they successfully secured a spot in the Afcon for only the fourth time since 1976.
The 1970 champions will face Algeria on December 24, Equatorial Guinea on December 28, and Burkina Faso on December 31 in the group stage. Eisa emphasized that each match represents a significant opportunity to uplift the spirits of those in Sudan.
"There are many troubling events occurring in Sudan. As players, we understand the importance of football to our nation," Eisa told BBC World Service. "Currently, there aren't many reasons to smile, so we are trying to use football as a means to distract people from the war."
He added, "Just qualifying for the Afcon and having fans support us is already a source of hope."
Eisa, who has played for various English Football League clubs including Scunthorpe United, Bradford City, and Grimsby Town, currently plays for the Thai club Chonburi. His teammates from Sudanese clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh are also now playing abroad due to the political instability, which has forced their clubs to relocate first to Mauritania and now to Rwanda.
Despite being away from Sudan, the squad remains deeply affected by the ongoing war. Eisa noted that this situation can be both "disheartening" and a source of "strength."
"It's challenging to ignore the war. Many players have family members still in Sudan, and numerous families have been impacted by the conflict," Eisa explained. "We often discuss the situation and explore ways to help, including donating whenever possible. Knowing we can make a difference gives us strength, although it's disheartening at times—there's only so much we can do."
He concluded, "As long as we go out there and fight for what belongs to us, I believe everyone will be happy."