Kwesi Appiah Eyes World Cup Qualification for Sudan

Former Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, is resolute in his ambition to achieve a remarkable feat, which is guiding Sudan to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Appiah, who steered Ghana to the 2014 World Cup, sees this as a pivotal breakthrough if World Cup qualification is secured for the North African nation. Currently, Sudan leads their group with ten points, comprising three wins and a draw, holding a two-point advantage over Senegal, who are second with eight points.

In a recent interview with FIFA, the Sudan head coach, Appiah emphasized the potential transformative impact of World Cup participation on Sudanese football.

“Reaching the World Cup would be a tremendous boost for the development of football in the country,” he stated.

“It would simplify administrative processes and potentially transform the lives of my players “.

At present, the squad only features two professionals. Appiah believes World Cup participation could inspire them to pursue careers in Europe, reshaping their aspirations and potential.

“Administratively, it would make things much easier. It could also change the lives of my players. Currently, there are only two professionals in the squad. If we were to qualify for a World Cup, they could perform on the biggest stage and then tell themselves that they too were capable of playing in Europe.

“That’s something that would transform their mindset. You cannot imagine how much happiness a World Cup participation would bring to all of Sudan.”

Appiah’s Sudan shares a group with Ghana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, adding to the competitive stakes. As the World Cup qualifiers pause, Sudan prepares for upcoming matches in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Niger and Angola.

Appiah remains focused on guiding his team towards their ambitious goal, aware of the immense joy and impact such an achievement would bring to Sudan.