"Sudan's participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is "bringing hope" to the nation's people amid its civil war, forward Abobaker Eisa says. The country has been in the grip of what the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis since April 2023, when a power struggle between the army and a paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Force (RSF), led to conflict."
"More than 150,000 people have been killed and over 12 million forced to flee their homes, with widespread famine and reports of genocide in the western Darfur region. The conflict forced Sudan to play all their qualifying matches away from home, but they came through to book their Afcon spot for only the fourth time since 1976. The 1970 champions face Algeria (24 December), Equatorial Guinea (28 December), and Burkino Faso (31 December) in the group stage,"
"Eisa, who has represented a number of English Football League clubs including Scunthorpe United, Bradford City and Grimsby Town, currently plays for Thai side Chonburi. Even his team-mates who represent Sudanese teams Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh are now playing abroad, with the political instability forcing the clubs to relocate first to Mauritania and now Rwanda. But despite being away from Sudan, the squad's minds are never far from the war, which Eisa says can be both "disheartening" and a source of "strength"."
Sudan is enduring a civil war since April 2023 that the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with over 150,000 killed and more than 12 million displaced. Widespread famine and reports of genocide have been reported in Darfur. The national team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for only the fourth time since 1976, playing all qualifying matches away from home. The squad faces Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso in the group stage. Players and relocated clubs now operate abroad, and the team aims to use football to offer hope and emotional distraction to the population.
Read at www.bbc.com
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