Ghanaian coach James Kwasi Appiah has set his sights on leading the Sudanese national team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, describing the potential achievement as a “life-changing experience.”
In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Appiah shared his ambitions and the progress his team has made in the qualifiers.
Appiah, who previously guided Ghana’s Black Stars to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, is now focused on bringing Sudan to the world stage.
Under Appiah’s leadership, Sudan secured a decisive 3-0 victory over South Sudan in Juba on Tuesday, June 11, in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Reflecting on the journey so far, Appiah emphasized the importance of consistency and home advantage.
“We started this campaign with a clear objective: to amass as many points as possible at home,” he said.
“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.”
The victory has placed Sudan at the top of Group B with 10 points from four matches, maintaining a two-point lead over Senegal, who sit second with eight points. The upcoming match against Senegal in March 2025 is set to be a pivotal moment in their campaign.
Appiah is keenly aware of the broader implications of World Cup qualification for Sudanese football.
“Reaching the World Cup would be a great springboard for the development of football in the country. Administratively, it would make things much easier. It could also change the lives of my players. Currently, there are only two professionals in the squad.
“If we were to qualify, they could perform on the biggest stage and then tell themselves that they too were capable of playing in Europe.”
Appiah’s experience as the first coach from sub-Saharan Africa to lead a team at a FIFA World Cup has become a source of inspiration for his current squad.
“They [players] ask me about the atmosphere during this competition, and if it’s different to how it appears on television. I tell them that I firmly believe they’re capable of qualifying for the World Cup. That pushes them to fight in every game.”
Appiah returned to Sudan in October 2023, beginning a new chapter in his coaching career with a Ghanaian backroom staff, including assistant coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu and goalkeepers Eric Amponsah, who replaced Fatau Dauda after his decision to join Otto Addo as Black Stars trainers.
