FIFA Arab Cup
FIFA Arab Cup helping Sudan prepare well for AFCON – Appiah
The head coach of Sudan’s national team, James Kwesi Appiah has said playing at the FIFA Arab Cup is helping his team prepare well ahead of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
Sudan kick started the FIFA Arab Cup by eliminating Lebanon 2-1 in the qualifying stage.
They went on hold defending champions Algeria goalless in their opening Group D match played on Wednesday at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Speaking after the match against the star studded Algerian side, Appiah made it clear that the FIFA Arab Cup is helping them shape-up well ahead of the AFCON. “We are having the chance to play and test several aspects in this tournament,” said the experienced coach.
He made it clear that although their ultimate goal is to try and win as many matches at possible in the FIFA Arab Cup, it is also a learning and preparatory gorund for his team. “We are playing against teams from different continents and this is helping us get good tests,” added Appiah.
The Falcons of Jediane will return to action against Group D table leaders Iraq on December 6th. Iraq defeated Bahrain 2-1 in their opening match played on Wednesday.
Sudan goalkeeper Mohamed Al Nour who was voted man of the match against Algeria also made it clear that their target is to qualify from the group to the knock out stage. “We are working hard as a team and this is also helping us keep together ahead of the AFCON in Morocco,” added the 25-year old.
Sudan, together with Uganda and Tanzania are the only teams from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone to qualify for the AFCON 2025.
The Sudan team is placed in Group E alongside Algeria, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea for the AFCON 2025 slated for December 21st to January 18th, 2026.
A 10-man Sudan team has defeated Lebanon 2-1 to qualify for the group stage of the FIFA Arab Cub 2025.
After all the three other teams from the CECAFA Zone South Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti had fallen out in the qualifying stage, coach James Kwesi Appiah’s team played their hearts out to advance.
Sudan’s John Robia was sent off for a second bookable offence after 24 minutes at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Qatar. Six minutes later Khalil Khamis gave Lebanon the lead after a failed clearance in the box.
The Sudan team reorganized and created some good scoring opportunities. Sudan’s Mohamad Haider scored an own goal two minutes to recess.
In the second half the Lebanon team with an advantage of a player more piled more pressure, but failed to find the net. Yasser Jolak scored for Sudan after 73 minutes to make it 2-1. The Sudan team defended in numbers till the final whistle.
Sudan now join Group D that also has defending champions Algeria, Iraq and Bharain. Sudan will also use the tournament to prepare ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) slated for December 21st to January 18th, 2026 in Morocco.
In earlier matches involving teams from the CECAFA Zone, Oman edged Somalia 4-1 on penalties after the match had ended goalless, while Bahrain stopped Djibouti 1-0.
After the qualifying round, the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, the 11th edition of the Arab Cup will officially take place December 1-18 in Qatar.
Teams from the CECAFA Zone Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti and South Sudan have set eyes on the first qualifying round of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar.
Victory for any of the 14 teams in the first qualifying round will send them straight to the group stage.
South Sudan will take to the field first against Syria on November 25th at the Graid Hamad Stadium in Doha.
Somalia, fresh from picking a morale boosting win against highly ranked Bahrain in an International friendly match will face Oman on November 26th in Doha.
On the same day Djibouti will face Bahrain, while Sudan who will also feature in the AFCON 2025 will take on Lebanon. After the first qualifying round action will shift to the group stages from December 1-18th, 2025.
The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup will be the 11th edition of the Arab Cup, the Arab world’s national team football tournament. It will be the second edition under FIFA’s jurisdiction, with previous editions having been organized by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA).
Algeria are the defending champions.
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