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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.

Is Sudan the AFCON Dark Horse: Coach Kwesi Appiah Eyes Shock Championship Win
Coach Kwesi Appiah Targets 2025 AFCON Trophy in Morocco

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.

WHY DID CRISTIANO RONALDO CRY? LUKA MODRIC EXPOSES JOSE MOURINHO’S HARSHEST LECTURE

Luka Modric reveals Jose Mourinho once reduced Cristiano Ronaldo to tears at Real Madrid for failing to track back defensively.

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Modric and Balague confirm the 2013 Valencia clash that shattered Real’s locker room

Luka Modric says that Jose Mourinho once gave Cristiano Ronaldo such a harsh lecture that the guy was in tears.

Ronaldo, who's 40 now, played really well under Mourinho, who's 62. They were together at Real Madrid for three seasons, but apparently, they didn't always get along off the field.

Even though things got off to a slow start, the Portuguese superstar still managed to score 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho. He also helped Mourinho win three trophies in his first two seasons.

But get this: even with superstars like Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria on his team, Mourinho was still super critical of Ronaldo's effort on defense.

Modric, who Mourinho signed from Tottenham back in 2013, told a story about one argument that made Ronaldo cry. Apparently, it was because he didn't chase after his assigned player.

"I saw him make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker room," Modric told Corriere della Sera, an Italian news outlet. Can you believe it? A guy who always gives it his all on the field, and he's getting yelled at because he didn't chase some defender.

Modric moved to Real Madrid in 2013 and only played under Mourinho for a year.

Modric, who played alongside Kaka and Mesut Ozil in the midfield after arriving for a big £33 million, didn't say which game the argument happened in.

Guillem Balague, a Spanish soccer journalist, wrote in Ronaldo's biography that Ronaldo and Mourinho almost fought after Mourinho yelled at him in the locker room following a 2-0 win against Valencia in January 2013.

Mourinho was mad because Ronaldo didn't seem willing to help out on defense during the game. And Ronaldo supposedly replied, After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me? How dare you say that to me!

Later that season, which turned out to be Mourinho's last with the team, Ronaldo was constantly asked about Mourinho's future. "I don't care," he said once. What I care about is my own future and the club.

This was a big change from earlier that year, when Mourinho said before the 2012 Ballon d'Or race, If Messi is the best on the planet, Ronaldo is the best in the universe!

After Mourinho left Real Madrid, he went on Spanish TV to talk about what caused the problems between him and Ronaldo.

"I only had one problem with him," he said. It was simple. When a coach gives a player feedback on tactics, they are trying to help them get better, in my opinion. He didn't take it well because he probably thinks he knows everything, and the coach can't help him.

Mourinho also said that they didn't really have a relationship. But time seemed to fix things, as he later said that coaching Ronaldo was the best thing that ever happened in his career.

Ronaldo also seemed to warm up to Mourinho later on, even saying that he was the best coach he ever had, even better than Sir Alex Ferguson. "I'd put him at the top; I always say that," Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo scored 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho during their three years together.

Even though Modric didn't win any trophies in his first season at Madrid, he was so impressed by Mourinho that he repeated something Mourinho famously said about himself.

He's special, as a coach and as a person, Modric said. He was the one who wanted me at Real Madrid. I wouldn't have come without him. I'm sad I only had him for one season.

Modric spent 13 years at Real Madrid, mostly managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Now he's at AC Milan and managed by Massimiliano Allegri. But he says Mourinho is the toughest of the three.

He added, "Mourinho is really direct with the players, but he's honest." He treated Sergio Ramos and new players the same way. If he had something to say, he'd say it. Max is the same way. He tells you what's right and wrong to your face. Honesty is key.

Modric also shared his opinion on the never-ending debate of who's better, Lionel Messi or Ronaldo, but said he doesn't really like talking about it.

"I don't like that question," he said. They both defined an era. I'm closer to Cristiano because I played with him; he was my teammate at Madrid, and I can tell you he's not just a great player, he's an amazing person. People don't know it, but he has a big heart and is always ready to help others. He's just a simple, normal guy.

He added, "I don't know Messi personally, but I'm sure he's great too." As a player, he's incredible.

CELTIC FANS DEMAND BOARD SACK WILFRIED NANCY AFTER SHOCK MOTHERWELL DEFEAT TONIGHT

Wilfried Nancy dismisses sack talk after Celtic's 2-0 loss at Motherwell. With Rangers closing in, the Old Firm looms large.

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Wilfried Nancy’s future on the line after fifth loss in seven

After Celtic's fifth loss in seven games under his leadership, Wilfried Nancy brushed off ideas that Saturday's Old Firm game would decide his future.

Tuesday's match at Fir Park, called 'El Passico' due to both teams' open play styles, saw Motherwell outperform the Frenchman's team. Ibrahim Said and Elliot Watt scored on either side of halftime.

The 2-0 defeat, Celtic's 17th this year, meant Hearts stayed three points ahead in the league, while Rangers closed in, now just three points behind Nancy's squad after a 2-1 victory over St Mirren.

At the end of the game, visiting fans chanted for the board to be sacked, and some even demanded the manager's immediate dismissal. When asked if his first derby was a make-or-break moment, Nancy responded, No, not really. Every game matters to me and the team.

I'm not focused on my future. I'm focusing on what I'm doing now, what I need to do to help the team get better, and what we need to do as a team to improve. That's how I see it.

When asked if he understood the fans' deep worry about the lack of progress during his time, Nancy was indignant.

Progress? "There is progress," he insisted. But tonight, the situation and the opponent were tough.

This is a fact. Now, we need to figure out how to get better, and that's what we've been working on from the start. Tonight was rough. That's the truth.

When questioned about feeling the pressure after such a bad start as the champion's manager, Nancy added, As a manager, I don't want this, obviously.

Pressure doesn't change how I think. We know we have to perform well.

But right now, this is how it is. I knew it could be like this. We've had good games at times. Tonight was a hard one.

Regarding whether he was sure he could turn things around, Nancy said, Yes, I'm sure. I had to make some choices about the team tonight. I believe in what we're trying to do and where we're going. This was a hard game, difficult for us, but I think we'll improve.

Motherwell's manager, Jens Berthel Askou, praised his team, saying it was probably their best game of the season.

"We knew we'd probably need our best, most solid, and most complete performance, both with and without the ball, to win," he said.

We've had really big and good performances, but they haven't led to wins against Rangers or Celtic. So, that's what we got, and that's what we needed. It was amazing to see.

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