Sudan appoint Velud ahead of crucial 2021 AFCON qualifying ties

Frenchman Hubert Velud has been appointed new head coach of the Sudan national team. The Sudan Football Association (SFA) announced on Tuesday that the experienced Velud is now their new coach. He replaces Zdravko Logarusic whose contract was not renewed.

Hassan Barquo, head of SFA National Teams Committee made the announcement.

Velud is not new to African football having handled the Togo national team and top teams TP Mazembe, JS Kabylie and Etoile du Sahel. He also had spells with Hassania Agadir, ES Setif, USM Alger and CS Constantine.

Velud’s major task will be to get Sudan back to winning ways when they face Ghana in back-to-back games in the 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March this year.

Ghana are top of Group C with maximum six points, while South Africa are second and Sudan third with three points each. São Tomé and Príncipe are bottom of the group with no point. Two teams from the group will qualify for the 2021 Afcon to take place in Cameroon.

Later in the year Sudan will also battle in Group I of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar qualifiers. The Group has Morocco, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.