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Sudan’s young women return to international soccer as war and taboos linger
The squad trained for only weeks and conceded 30 goals in two matches, underscoring the toll of Sudan’s civil war on women’s soccer.
- Sudan's U-17 women's national team returned to international play last week in Casablanca, Morocco, competing in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualifiers for the first time since the 2023 civil war erupted.
- Unable to assemble a senior squad due to conflict, the federation fielded the inexperienced U-17 team, with Coach Burhan Tia recruiting 10 players from schools across Sudan and refugee communities in Egypt.
- The squad conceded 30 goals in two matches against Comoros, as Coach Tia noted, "The difference between us and the others is huge," citing the team's schoolgirl composition.
- Players faced sexist online abuse, including demands to "go back to the kitchen," while political scientist Liv Tønnessen stated the team confronts decades of restrictions on women under Bashir's Islamist rule.
- Despite a humanitarian crisis displacing over 14 million people, Manal Ali Bushra, head of the federation's women's football committee, said the federation is planning infrastructure projects including a sports city.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources25
Leaning Left8Leaning Right2Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Center
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources are Center
59% Center
L 33%
C 59%
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