Sudanese participation in the Africa Cup of Nations restores hope to its citizens amidst the civil war.
Sudanese football player Abobaker Eisa said that participating in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) restores hope to the citizens of Sudan in light of the ongoing civil war.
Since April 2023, the country has been plunged into what the United Nations calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, following a conflict that erupted as a result of a power struggle between the army and paramilitary wings, such as the Rapid Support Forces.
The death toll has reached over 150,000 people, and more than 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with famine spreading and reports of genocide circulating in the western Darfur region.
The conflict forced Sudan to play its qualifying matches outside the country, but it managed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for only the fourth time since 1976.
The Sudanese team will face Algeria (December 24), Equatorial Guinea (December 28), and Burkina Faso (December 31) in Group A matches. Eisa said that every match represents a “very big deal” and contributes to distracting Sudanese people from the difficult situation in the country.
“There are many bad things happening in Sudan. As players, we know how important football is to our people,” Eisa said in an interview with the BBC World Service.
“There are not many smiling faces currently in Sudan, so we try to use football as a way to keep citizens’ minds off the war.
“Even qualifying for the tournament and enjoying the fans’ encouragement – the fact that we are there at all restores hope to the people.”
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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