Women's football kicks off in Sudan

Khartoum is home turf for the Sudan women's football team, who are facing off neighbours South Sudan in a local derby. This seemingly normal scene is a huge turn of events for the country where, before its dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019, women's football had been outlawed.

Freed from these constraints, the first Sudan women's football team took shape, although making progress hasn't been a walk in the park. A further coup d'état in October 2021 saw training interrupted and the home leg of their Women's Africa cup qualifier against Algeria abandoned.

This is an ongoing concern for team coach Salma al-Majidi.

Salma al-Majidi: "The security situation has greatly affected us. A match against Algeria was cancelled due to the security situation. Even during this last period we couldn't properly prepare - and the women's Sudan Football Association is new. We had one or two days, practice days, cancelled due to the protests and the insecurity."

While the coup led to fears that women's football would again be relegated to the sidelines, these concerns have so far failed to materialise. The coup's leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, contends that, following next year's democratic elections, the military will remove itself from politics.

While there's no sign the military plan to move the goalposts on the women's game, the young side's yet to rack up a win. Despite their 6-nil drubbing by their rivals south of the border, South Sudan player Amy Lasu praised Sudan for keeping them on their toes.

Amy Lasu: "We came prepared, we were fully prepared. I mean, it's been hard work. For the time we've been training, we've tried so hard to, to do what the coach wants us to do. It, It's a great feeling for us. It's a moment to be proud of because it's the first time we're playing Sudan."

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