Sudan head coach Kwesi Appiah has vowed that his side will bounce back strongly when they face Nigeria’s Super Eagles B in their second group match at the ongoing 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Footynaija.com reports.
The Falcons of Jediane opened their Group D campaign with a 1–1 draw against Congo Brazzaville in Zanzibar, a result that leaves both teams trailing Senegal, who edged Nigeria 1–0 in the other fixture. With the pressure now mounting ahead of a defining clash against the CHAN Eagles, Appiah says Sudan will take full advantage of the week-long gap before their next match.
The Ghanaian coach, who took charge of Sudan in 2023, has had to work under tough circumstances following the suspension of the Sudanese domestic league due to the ongoing conflict back home. His squad, heavily reliant on players from Al-Hilal Omdurman, only had four days to prepare before the tournament.
Appiah did not shy away from highlighting the difficulties facing his team.
“We’ve had no active league back home, which has really affected the fitness levels of the players,” he said.
“It’s not about confidence — they’re just not in peak shape physically, and that’s a major concern for us.”
The coach admitted that the limited preparation time has contributed to tactical lapses and injury problems, which were visible against Congo.
“We’re struggling with muscle pulls, and there’s a bit of tactical indiscipline that we need to fix,” Appiah added.
Although those issues were present, Sudan managed to take the lead before Congo equalised late on. Appiah praised his squad for staying competitive under the circumstances, particularly striker Musa Hussein, who impressed with his movement and finish.
“We created some good scoring opportunities, and our striker Musa Hussein did well to capitalize on one of them.”
As revealed in a report on CAF’s official website, Appiah also revealed the psychological burden his players have been carrying. With little to no club football in months, many are using CHAN as an opportunity to be seen at the continental level.
“It’s a psychological battle too,” he said. “I’ve had to do a lot of meetings just to get the players mentally ready to play at this level.”
Looking ahead to the clash against Eric Chelle’s Nigeria, Appiah remains hopeful. He believes the seven-day break before their next game on 12 August will allow time to address Sudan’s tactical and fitness concerns.
“We have a week to prepare,” he noted. “That gives me a chance to adjust the team and improve things. We’ll work on our weaknesses and come back stronger against Nigeria.”
He also took time to commend Congo for their spirited second-half fightback.
“Congo played well. You can’t underrate any team at this level. They deserved the draw.”
With Nigeria also eager to respond after their narrow loss to Senegal, the Sudan vs Nigeria clash is shaping up as a decisive battle in Group D. For Appiah and his squad, it is an opportunity to prove resilience in the face of adversity.
“The fight is still on, and we’re determined to make a strong comeback,” he said.
