The Sudanese Football Association has confirmed that Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah will remain in charge of the national team until 2029, with federation president Mutasim Jaafar Sir Al-Khatim citing the need for technical stability and continued development.
Sir Al-Khatim announced the decision at a press conference at the association’s headquarters on Monday, 19 October, as he outlined plans to improve football in Sudan and strengthen the country’s presence in continental competitions.
The federation president said the association understood the expectations of the sporting community and remained committed to improving the national teams’ performances. He added that efforts to develop the game would continue, with the aim of meeting the ambitions of Sudanese supporters.
Appiah, who is in his fourth year with the team, has received the federation’s backing despite the challenges facing the national side. The decision to keep him until 2029 is intended to provide continuity in the technical department as Sudan seek to build on their recent progress.
Sudan look to build on recent progress
Sir Al-Khatim expressed hope that Sudanese football would maintain the momentum achieved in recent years. He pointed to the national team’s appearance in three continental finals last year as evidence of the progress made.
He also praised Sudan’s youth team for winning the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) championship recently and securing qualification for the continental finals.
The federation president said such achievements offered encouragement as Sudan continued working to improve the performance of its national teams.
Appiah will be expected to guide the senior side through the upcoming rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with Sudan aiming to secure strong results and reach the tournament for a second consecutive time.
The extension also signals the association’s intention to maintain a stable technical structure rather than make changes to the national team’s leadership.
Alongside its support for Appiah, the federation is looking to develop local expertise in coaching and football administration. Sir Al-Khatim said qualifying Sudanese personnel in these areas was important to the wider development of the sport.
The initiative is intended to strengthen the country’s football system and build greater domestic capacity in both technical and management roles.
Sudan thank Saudi Arabia for support
Sir Al-Khatim also expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for their support of Sudanese football.
He stressed the importance of maintaining communication with the Saudi federation’s new board of directors, saying stronger engagement would help reinforce relations between the two organisations.
The Sudanese FA president praised the assistance provided to Sudan’s national team and highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two federations.
The announcement of Appiah’s contract extension comes as the association seeks to combine continuity at senior-team level with the development of local coaches and administrators.
By retaining the Ghanaian coach until 2029, the federation has reaffirmed its confidence in his leadership as Sudan work towards further progress in African football.
