Kwesi Appiah target 2026 World Cup qualification after AFCON success with Sudan

The 63-year-old after signing a three-year deal earlier this year with the Sudanese FA has guided them to secure a spot in the AFCON tournament that will be hosted in Morocco next year despite the civil unrest in the country.

In the Mundila qualification, Sudan sit top of Group B with 10 points after four matches played.

Having guided to side to secure AFCON qualification, Appiah speaking in an interview revealed he is aiming to lead the side to play in the global showpiece for the first time in the country’s history.

“When I was appointed, I was not given any target but rather I was told to build a team within a period number of years but I told them that would be difficult due to the unrest and it is just two clubs who were playing in CAF competitions,” he told Asempa FM.

“Despite the unrest, I convinced them that I wanted to qualify for the AFCON and the World Cup and if only they could support me, we would achieve it and now we have qualified for the AFCON.

“When I left Sudan in 2015, five of the players I coached at Al Khartoum were still in the national team so I used them to help get in touch with other players and they helped me a lot,” he added.

Appiah also praised Sudanese players for being disciplined.

“Sudanese players are well disciplined and they are always willing to do more so that helped me a lot. Even during the qualifiers, they always wanted to know if they were doing what was right or not.”

Sudan’s team is comprised solely of players based at African clubs, many of whom play for Sudanese rivals Al Hilal and Al Merrikh. Both are temporarily playing in the Mauritanian league due to the unstable political situation in Sudan.

Meanwhile, the Falcons of Jediane will take on Senegal and South Sudan in the Matchday five and six games in March 2025.

Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet