In a country ravaged by more than two years of brutal conflict, Sudan’s passion for football has defied the odds, roaring back to life in a modest yet momentous revival of the Sudan Premier League.
In the town of Berber, hundreds of kilometers from the frontlines, football fans erupted in cheers during the penultimate league match between newly-crowned champions Al-Hilal and Hay al-Wadi. “It’s a wonderful feeling… indescribable,” said jubilant fan Ahmed Taj. “We’re so happy to see Al-Hilal and Sudanese football come back after everything we’ve lost.”
Since April 2023, war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Despite the chaos, the Sudan Elite League was held in relatively safer cities within River Nile State, Atbara, Berber, and al-Damer, offering the public a rare reprieve from daily suffering.
Tuesday’s league finale pitted fierce rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh against each other. Al-Hilal triumphed, clinching the title, while Al-Merrikh secured second place and a ticket to next season’s African Champions League.
For Al-Hilal captain and national star Mohamed Abdel Rahman, the return home, though not in Khartoum, was deeply emotional. “We’re so happy to be back playing in front of our fans,” he said. “We’re giving our all to bring them some joy.”
Both teams had been forced to play abroad last season, with Al-Hilal reaching the African Champions League quarter-finals while based in Mauritania. Yet not all teams shared the same return.
Of the eight teams in this shortened league, down from the usual 24, seven were based in army-held areas. Hay al-Wadi, from war-torn Nyala in South Darfur, participated despite being cut off from home. “We miss our fans and hometown,” said team captain Jibril Mohamed Nour. “We can only hope to go back soon.”
Even with underprepared squads and patchy facilities, the league has raised hopes for a footballing revival. Al-Merrikh’s Egyptian coach Shawky Gharib lauded the passion on display: “The fans are here, the players are here. With a proper system, everything else can be rebuilt.”
Sudan Football Association board member Mohamed Abdel Samee praised the league’s success, stating, “We insisted on holding the championship, and as soon as it wraps up, we’ll begin planning for the next season.”
Despite ongoing war and widespread hunger, the return of Sudan’s top-flight football has provided a much-needed spark of unity, resilience, and national pride.
Written By Rodney Mbua
