In a country torn by conflict since April 2023, Sudan’s football team has found a rare source of joy. At the helm is James Kwesi Appiah, a Ghanaian coach who has turned a struggling national side into Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
His most striking achievement came when Sudan eliminated Ghana, his own homeland, to secure a spot in the 2025 tournament.
The war has created unusual circumstances for football in Sudan. The nation’s biggest clubs, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, now compete in Mauritania due to safety concerns.
Yet, Appiah keeps his team focused. “I remind them they can bring smiles to our people. Even if the guns are firing, sometimes football makes the fighting stop for a while,” he told the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Transforming Sudan’s Team
Since taking over in 2023, Appiah has reshaped Sudan’s team. Once inconsistent and fragile, the squad now shows structure, discipline, and confidence.
Under his guidance, Sudan not only qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations but also impressed at the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), finishing fourth after a narrow penalty shootout loss to Senegal.
Appiah’s coaching career spans decades. Before Sudan, he led Ghana’s national team on three separate occasions, guiding them through tournaments and World Cup campaigns. His experience brought him lessons in resilience and strategy that he now applies in Sudan.
A Legacy in African Football
James Kwesi Appiah’s connection to African football runs deep. As a player, he won Ghana’s fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in 1982.
Later, he made history by becoming the first Black African to coach Ghana at a FIFA World Cup in 2014 in Brazil. He also served as assistant coach during Ghana’s 2010 World Cup campaign, helping the team reach the quarter-finals, one of Africa’s best performances until Morocco reached the semi-finals in 2022.
Now 65, Appiah combines decades of playing and coaching experience with a talent for inspiring players. Sudanese fans hope he can deliver another surprise at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Sudan will face Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea in Group E.