A month ago
After many years of struggling and failing to make it to the African Cup Of Nations Tournament, the Ghanaian James Akwasi Appiah who is an executive council member of the Ghana football association and a technical director of the most decorated club in Ghana, Kumasi Asante Kotoko has guided the Sudanese national team into their first Afcon since 2012. This came at the expense of Ghana's failure to qualify for the first time in 20 years. Best of luck to them in the upcoming competition in Morocco next year.
Sudan's political situation is quite complex and tumultuous. The country has been experiencing recurring eruptions of violence, particularly between the government and opposition forces as well as ethnic clashes. The conflict has resulted in significant human rights violations, including ethnically motivated murder, gang rape, kidnapping and forced recruitment of child soldiers.
These seemingly unending troubles have made the governing bodies of football declare that country unsafe for association football.
Apparently, the exact reason the over 50 million populated North-East African country have been playing their CAF/FIFA competition qualifiers outside their comfort zone.
Notwithstanding the situations Sudan tops Group B of the 2026 world cup qualifiers, a group that comprise Senegal; Sudan stand a good chance of qualifying for the mundial. The qualifiers continues in March 2025.
And Sudan historically, qualifies for the 2025 AFCON in Morroco, an achievement that is of unimaginable proportions because of all the things that is happening back in Sudan, his assistant once said they've never been to Sudan and they do not even know how the place looks like.
As established earlier, Sudan played all their qualifying matches away from home due to the political instability in that country yet delivered under the Kotoko legend by securing the second place with 8 points.
These are one of the few reasons why he is part of the best men's African coach of the year, as it validates this fact.The 2024 CAF Awards will take place in Marrakesh, Morroco, on Monday, December 16. CAF really noticed the good work he's doing there.
Appiah does not only deserve a prolonged standing ovation in Sudan but a statue for single-handedly bringing the people together for the first time with such a monumental feat which brings a gargantuan sense of nostalgia.
At the moment Coach James Akwasi Appiah has a special place in the hearts of the Sudanese, as he has done the unthinkable for them, he is giving them something to be happy for
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