Sudan national team coach James Kwesi Appiah says qualifiying for 2026 FIFA World Cup will emulate the development of football in the country.

Sudan is on top of Group B with 10 points out of 4 games and is getting closer to a first-ever World Cup qualification.

The Nil Crocodiles are doing wonders under the guidance of the Ghanaian coach and the latter expects a World Cup qualification will be a great tool to continue the work in the country.

“We started this campaign with a clear objective: to amass as many points as possible at home”, James Appiah told FIFA.

“Our game against Congo DR (a 1-0 win) was indicative of the determination of the players, who kept going until the end to secure this crucial victory. After also beating Mauritania away 2-0, the players will go into the upcoming challenges with confidence. These results have given us an advantage ahead of our clash with Senegal in March 2025. The Sudanese federation is also doing a remarkable job, providing excellent conditions for us. Everyone is contributing to the success of this qualifying campaign.

“When Sudan called on my services, I felt really honoured, as it shows that African teams believe in the expertise of their coaches. During the last World Cup, all CAF teams had African coaches at the helm. They’ve shown the world, in the shape of Walid Regragui and Morocco, that they can perform when given the opportunity. African coaches have proven themselves when they’ve been afforded the chance.

“Reaching the World Cup would be a great springboard for the development of football in the country. Administratively, it would make things much easier. It could also change the lives of my players. Currently, there are only two professionals in the squad. If we were to qualify for a World Cup, they could perform on the biggest stage and then tell themselves that they too were capable of playing in Europe. That’s something that would transform their mindset. You cannot imagine how much happiness a World Cup participation would bring to all of Sudan.”