We did not prepare well for FIFA Arab Cup – Sudan coach Velud

The head coach of Sudan has said lack of good preparations had a huge impact in the way they performed at the on-going FIFA Arab Cup 2021 in Qatar

Coach Hubert Velud’s team lost all the three Group D matches at the competition conceding 10 goals and scoring none.

“These are the same players who helped the team qualify for AFCON and the FIFA Arab Cup. But because we have had some challenges in Sudan with the League not played for over two months and not enough preparations, all this affected our team,” said Velud.

Sudan lost their third straight Group D game on Tuesday night to Lebanon. Ali Abu Ashyn netted an own goal after 76th minutes, while each team had a player sent-off.

“I cannot say we played well at the FIFA Arab Cup because we lost all the three matches. We need to go back and correct several mistakes and also prepare better for the Africa Cup of Nations,” said Velud.

The Sudan team kick started their FIFA Arab Cup 2021 campaign with a 4-0 loss to Algeria, before they suffered another 5-0 defeat to Egypt where they also had two players sent-off.

African sides Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco have all qualified for the quarter final stage at the on-going FIFA Arab Cup 2021.

Tunisia will face Oman, while hosts Qatar take on United Arab Emirates in the second quarter final match. Egypt will battle Jordan, and defending champions Morocco face Algeria in the other quarter final ties.