Sudan’s head coach, James Kwesi Appiah, has expressed strong confidence in his team’s chances ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Following Sudan’s qualification, Appiah spoke about his ambitions for the tournament, making it clear that Sudan will not merely participate but compete to win.
“By God’s grace, we have qualified, and we will prepare very well to ensure that we have a strong team before the AFCON,” Appiah remarked. “As I already stated, any competition we enter, we will go all out to win.”
The experienced coach dismissed the notion of teams participating without the ambition to succeed. “I don’t believe in the idea of taking part in a competition with the mindset that you think you’ll be eliminated in the first round. Instead, once you’re in, you aim for the cup rather than coming out with nothing,” he emphasized.
Appiah drew inspiration from Ivory Coast’s remarkable comeback in the 2023 AFCON, where the Elephants defied expectations to claim the title after nearly exiting the tournament early. “Nothing is impossible in football. Who knew Ivory Coast would win the competition? They were nearly eliminated, but they came back to win the AFCON 2023,” he reflected.
He highlighted the evolving nature of African football, urging respect for all competing teams. “Football has matured, and no team should be underestimated,” Appiah concluded.
Sudan’s qualification marks a significant achievement under Appiah’s leadership, and his positive outlook signals a determined and motivated side as they prepare for Africa’s premier football competition.
