IS SUDAN THE AFCON DARK HORSE: COACH KWESI APPIAH EYES SHOCK CHAMPIONSHIP WIN
Can Sudan repeat their 1970 glory? Coach Kwesi Appiah insists the Falcons are in Morocco to win the AFCON 2025 trophy, not just play.
After failing to make it past the group stage in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Sudan is heading to the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, hoping for a better result.
This will be the East African team's 11th appearance in the tournament. They were there right from the start, hosting the first one in 1957.
Back in the day, Sudan was a top team in Africa, winning the tournament in 1970 on their home turf. This was shortly after Gaafar Nimeiry's coup, and their star player was Mustafa Azhari Alawad.
But after 1970, when Mustafa retired, the team went into a slump. They lost their spot as a major power in African soccer to other teams.
This decline meant that Sudan had to wait 32 years to get back into the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008. They didn't do well, losing all three games 3-0.
However, Sudan had their best showing yet in the 2012 AFCON, reaching the quarterfinals. Since then, they've been dealing with some big issues that have slowed down the growth of Sudanese soccer.
After 2012, Sudan had another four-year wait before returning to the AFCON, qualifying for the Cameroon edition. That tournament, the 33rd, featured 24 teams.
Sudan was placed in Group D with Nigeria, Egypt, and Guinea-Bissau. They started with a 0-0 draw against Guinea-Bissau, then lost 3-1 to Nigeria. Their run ended with a 1-0 loss to Egypt.
How did Sudan qualify this time?
Despite the civil war in the country, the Falcons of Jediane managed to qualify for the final round of games. After losing 3-0 to Niger, Sudan secured second place in Group F with a 0-0 draw against Angola in Libya. Angola finished top of the group with 14 points, while Sudan had eight points. Sudan qualified instead of Ghana, which finished with three points.
When will Sudan play?
Under Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah, the Falcons of Jediane are in a tough Group E with Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea.
Sudan will begin against Algeria on Wednesday, December 24, at Moulay Hassan Stadium. Then, they will play Equatorial Guinea at Stade Mohammed V on December 28, Sunday. Their last group game will be against Burkina Faso on Wednesday, December 31, at Stade Mohammed V.
What does coach Kwesi Appiah say?
Before the AFCON starts, the 64-year-old, who used to coach Ghana’s Black Stars, said he believes they can do well. He said their goal in Morocco is to compete for the trophy.
“We're not just there to participate, but to fight for the trophy. I think if we have the right attitude, we can do it. There’s no reason to go to the competition if you don’t want to win.
“We are going to Morocco with ambition and belief,” Appiah told CAFOnline.com in a recent interview.
About their group, he said, “We respect the other teams, but we won't be afraid. If you think too much about big names like Messi or Ronaldo, you've already lost. I'm telling my players to believe in themselves and show what Sudan can do. We are there to compete, not just to be there.”
When asked what they want to achieve, he said, “One step at a time. First, we want to get out of the group. Then, we'll try to beat whoever we face in the next round. Once you get there, anything can happen.”
Appiah added, “Our strength is our team spirit and determination. Many of our young players are full of energy and are improving fast. We also have a few players from abroad, including one from Australia, who could surprise people. Fans should watch out for some new names.”
The AFCON 2025 will be held from December 21 to January 18, 2026. This will be the second time Morocco has hosted the tournament, after 1988.
Sudan squad for AFCON 2025:
Goalkeepers: Ali Aboeshren, Mohamed Elnour, Monged Elneel.
Defenders: Mohamed Saeed, Alyayeb Abdelrazig, Mustafa Abdelgadir, Yasser Awad, Bakhit Khamis (Captain), Mazin Mohamedein, Awad Zaid, Ahmed Abdelmonem, and Mohamed Kesra.
Midfielders: Abuaagla Abdalla, Walieldin Khidr, Abdelrazig Omer, Ammar Tayfour, Salaheldin Adil, Musa Hussain, Sheddy Ezeldin, and Amar Yunis.
Forwards: Yasser Mozamil, Mohamed Abdelrhman, John Otenyal, Mohamed Essa, Elgozoli Hussain, Abobaker Essa, and Mohamed Teya.
THE HIDDEN MATH BEHIND FIFA’S $33,000 WORLD CUP FINAL TICKET PRICE SURGE
Gianni Infantino defends $32,970 ticket prices at the Milken Institute, citing the US market as the world's most developed.
FIFA just tripled the price of its top tickets for the World Cup final, now charging $32,970 for the best seats at the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On Thursday, those front-row “category 1” seats popped up for sale, right as members of Congress started pushing FIFA for answers about high prices and demanding more transparency on how tickets are being priced.
Before, the highest category 1 ticket for the final topped out at $10,990. Now, the only way to snag that price is if you need a wheelchair or special-access seat; otherwise, you’re looking at the new, much steeper cost.
Prices don’t stop there. For the July 14 semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Texas, seats are $11,130, $4,330, $3,710, and $2,705. The next day’s semifinal in Atlanta? $10,635, $3,545, and $2,725. U.S. group stage matches aren’t cheap either; opening night in California runs $2,735, $1,940, or $1,120 a seat. The June 19 clash against Australia in Seattle sits at $2,715. And for the finale against Türkiye back in LA, tickets range from $2,970 down to $840.
Representatives Nellie Pou and Frank Pallone Jr, both Democrats from New Jersey, fired off a letter to FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino, calling FIFA’s use of “dynamic pricing” too secretive and criticising practices that make it tough for regular fans to get seats. Their letter didn’t mince words: “We’re deeply concerned about FIFA’s opaque pricing and shifting rules. Fans are getting frustrated and feel misled. We want to know how FIFA ensures everyone can actually afford to attend and what’s being done to address these concerns.”
Gianni Infantino hasn’t backed down. On Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, he defended his price tags. “We have to look at the market,” Infantino said. “This is the most developed entertainment market anywhere, so we charge market rates. Tickets here can legally be resold, so if you price them low, people just flip them for more. In fact, even with what some call high prices, tickets end up reselling for twice as much or more.”
He also pointed out, “You can’t go to a college game in the U.S., never mind a pro one, without spending at least $300 for a decent ticket.”
Sure, tickets for huge events like the Super Bowl or the College Football Championship can hit these levels, but scores of seats at U.S. college and pro sporting events, even the NBA playoffs, still go for under $300.
When it comes to resale, FIFA doesn’t set those prices. On its official ticket exchange, final match seats were listed Thursday from $8,970 all the way up to a wild $11,499,998.85, the latter for a spot four rows from the top in the upper deck. FIFA takes 15% of each sale from both buyer and seller. Last month, somebody listed a final ticket for $2,299,998.85.
Infantino joked about those prices: “If people list final tickets for $2 million, number one, that’s not the actual price. Number two, who’s paying that? If someone does, I’ll personally deliver them a hot dog and a Coke.”
Ticket prices aren’t the only pain point for fans. Getting to the game, especially at MetLife Stadium, has its own sticker shock. NJ Transit originally set a $150 round-trip fare from anywhere to the stadium, way up from the normal $13-ish round trip from Manhattan’s Penn Station. After plenty of backlash, they cut it down to $105, but that’s still steep.
Governor Mikie Sherrill, via her spokesperson Steve Sigmund, said she’s pushing for more corporate contributions to lower fares for fans. “The governor is grateful for the companies helping reduce costs and will keep working to make the World Cup a win for both fans and New Jersey.”
FIFA, for its part, warned that these high transit prices could dampen turnout in New Jersey, while other host cities, LA, Dallas, and Houston, aren’t hiking fares for the games.
MetLife Stadium, usually home to the Giants and Jets, will host eight World Cup matches, including the final. Group stage games for powerhouse teams like Brazil, France, Germany, and England all kick off starting June 13.
FIFA EXTENDS PRESTIANNI BAN WORLDWIDE; WINGER SET TO MISS WORLD CUP OPENERS
Gianluca Prestianni will miss games against Algeria and Austria if selected by Scaloni. Get the full disciplinary breakdown.
FIFA has extended Gianluca Prestianni’s suspension for homophobic conduct to apply globally, which could sideline him for Argentina’s first two matches at the 2026 World Cup. The winger from Benfica, initially punished after a well-publicised incident with Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, will now have his ban affect not just club matches but international competitive games as well.
The disciplinary move by FIFA follows a request from UEFA, and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has confirmed the six-match ban will take effect worldwide. According to a FIFA spokesperson, the committee agreed to broaden the suspension’s scope, impacting all levels of competitive play.
This decision carries serious implications for both Benfica and Argentina. What was once a suspension limited to UEFA competitions now bars the 20-year-old from participating in any FIFA competitive events, including the upcoming World Cup in North America.
If Prestianni makes Lionel Scaloni’s final Argentina roster for 2026, he will be forced to sit out the opening group stage games against Algeria and Austria. Despite this setback, he remains eligible for friendlies; he was actually called up earlier this year for matches against Mauritania and Zambia following his November 2025 senior debut.
While the ban totals six matches, half of those come with a two-year probationary clause. After missing a Champions League match against Real Madrid under a provisional suspension, Prestianni still has two active games left to serve. Notably, domestic games with Benfica this season are unaffected, since the worldwide ban targets only competitive international fixtures.
The incident that triggered this whole saga happened on February 17 during a Champions League knockout match at Estadio da Luz. Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of racial abuse, prompting referee Francois Letexier to pause the game for eight minutes and activate FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol.
Prestianni has denied these accusations and issued a statement saying he never directed racist insults at Vinicius Junior, suggesting the player misunderstood what was said. He also condemned the threats he received from Real Madrid players in the aftermath.
Despite his denials, UEFA’s investigation concluded that Prestianni engaged in discriminatory, specifically homophobic, conduct, leading to his suspension.
Questions remain about the length of the ban, as UEFA’s rules generally mandate a minimum 10-match suspension for offences against human dignity based on factors like race or sexual orientation. UEFA has not explained why the disciplinary body settled on a shorter six-match penalty.
Looking ahead, Prestianni faces a challenging path to regain standing under scrutiny. Should he violate conduct rules again within the probationary period, the remaining three matches of his ban could be enforced immediately, potentially harming his prospects with both Benfica and the Argentina national team.
