Former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah is optimistic about guiding Sudan to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Appiah’s Sudanese team currently leads Group B, surprising many by surpassing former African champions Senegal and the 2023 AFCON semi-finalists, the Democratic Republic of Congo, after four matches.
Appiah, who previously led Ghana to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, is now aiming to become the first African coach to qualify two different countries for the global tournament. “I firmly believe we can achieve this,” he stated in an interview with FIFA’s media channel.
Sudan will face group favorites Senegal in March 2025 when the qualifiers resume, holding a two-point lead over the Teranga Lions. Reflecting on his team’s approach, Appiah said, “We started this campaign with a clear objective: to amass as many points as possible at home. Our game against Congo DR (a 1-0 win) was indicative of the determination of the players, who kept going until the end to secure this crucial victory. After also beating Mauritania away 2-0, the players will go into the upcoming challenges with confidence.”
Appiah also highlighted the strong support from the Sudanese football federation, which has played a key role in their successful campaign. “These results have given us an advantage ahead of our clash with Senegal in March 2025. The Sudanese federation is also doing a remarkable job, providing excellent conditions for us. Everyone is contributing to the success of this qualifying campaign,” he added.
Appiah was appointed as Sudan’s coach in September 2023, with the additional goal of leading the team back to the Africa Cup of Nations.
