- Title: Sudanese soccer fans celebrate as team qualifies for African Cup of Nations
- Date: 19th November 2024
- Summary: BENGHAZI, LIBYA (NOVEMBER 18, 2024) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) FIREWORKS AT MARTYRS OF BENINA STADIUM AFTER SUDAN’S NATIONAL TEAM QUALIFIED FOR AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS SUDANESE FANS CHEERING IN FRONT OF STADIUM VARIOUS OF SUDANESE FANS WAVING SUDANESE FLAG AS THEY CHEER FOR THEIR NATIONAL TEAM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUDANESE CITIZEN, HOWAIDA (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING: “Today, I am extremely happy that we qualified for the African Cup despite the circumstances that Sudan is going through. I mean, we are very, very, very happy. Thank you.” VARIOUS OF SUDANESE FANS SINGING AND DANCING VARIOUS OF FANS TAKING A PHOTO WITH THEIR PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUDANESE CITIZEN, ZAIN ADAM, SAYING: “We say a thousand congratulations to our Sudanese team, and despite the harshness of the war, thank God we qualified for the next round. We say the best is yet to come, and greetings to all the Sudanese team, and from here we salute them and say to them a thousand congratulations.” VARIOUS OF SUDANESE NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS CELEBRATING AT THE SUDANESE CONSUL’S HOUSE IN BENGHAZI (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUDAN NATIONAL TEAM COACH, JAMES KWESI APPIAH, SAYING: “Since we started the competition, it's been really difficult because of the war in Sudan. So I decided that since there is no league as well in Sudan, I need to make sure I pick some players from Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh (Sudanese football clubs). " (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUDAN NATIONAL TEAM COACH, JAMES KWESI APPIAH, SAYING: "So it's been really difficult because our home matches are being played either in Libya, Mauritania, South Sudan.” PLAYERS SINGING AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR QUALIFICATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUDANESE NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER, ABU AQLA ABDULLAH, SAYING: “We are very happy to qualify and our greatest and first happiness is that we were able to draw joy on the faces of the Sudanese and our families currently in Sudan in these difficult circumstances. We are proud to see them happy and despite this suffering they are able to laugh, able to be happy and able to smile. This is a big thing for us.” FANS CELEBRATING IN THE STREETS, WAVING SUDANESE FLAGS PORT SUDAN, SUDAN (NOVEMBER 19, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PORT SUDAN STREET TRAFFIC EXTERIOR OF SPORTS STORE GLASS FACADE OF STORE WITH TROPHIES AND JERSEYS ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF SPORTS SHOP OWNER , MOHAMMED DAWOUD, PLACING JERSEY ON HANGER DAWOUD AND CO-WORKER HANGING JERSEYS INSIDE STORE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUDANESE CITIZEN AND SPORTS SHOP OWNER, MOHAMMED DAWOUD, SAYING: “Whenever there is a match for the national team, sales increase. The T-shirts are not enough for the demand. Now, the red ones are sold out, the black ones are sold out, and only the white ones are left—and even those might not be available anymore. Mashallah, we ask God… Mashallah… we ask God for progress for the national team and for lifting people’s spirits. People are extremely disheartened, and that’s why they [the team] have greatly uplifted our morale and made us forget the war.” VARIOUS OF DAWOUD PACKAGING JERSEY'S IN PLASTIC BAGS DAWOUD'S CO-WORKER HANGING JERSEYS JERSEY'S HANGING INSIDE STORE VARIOUS OF SOCCER SHOES AND SOCCER BALLS INSIDE STORE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF PORT SUDAN, MOHAMMED ADAM, SAYING: “We wish the national team success and progress. They have brought us so much joy and made us proud, with the Sudanese flag flying high in every country. All nations now know that Sudan’s football has developed and advanced forward.” VARIOUS OF PORT SUDAN STREET TRAFFIC PEOPLE STANDING ON THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRESIDENT OF THE SUDANESE NATIONAL TEAMS SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION, "SIR" CARLOS, SAYING: “Congratulations to all our people and the entire sports community on this victory and qualification. As athletes and as Sudanese people amidst these challenges, we truly needed this win. It’s a very big joy, and the people desperately need this happiness. We hope, God willing, that it will be crowned with the next step—qualification for the World Cup with the same team.” 87. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING ON THE STREET
- Embargoed: 3rd December 2024 18:51
- Keywords: AFCON Libya National team Soccor Sudan War
- Location: BENGHAZI, LIBYA AND PORT SUDAN, SUDAN
- City: BENGHAZI, LIBYA AND PORT SUDAN, SUDAN
- Country: Various
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001078719112024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Sudan’s soccer national team qualified for African Cup of Nations after a goalless draw against Angola, which saw them finish second in their group.
Sudanese fans were seen waving flags, cheering and lighting up the sky with fireworks in Libya's Benghazi where the team had been playing due to the ongoing war in Sudan.
Sudan needed one point in order to qualify from their group, which they achieved after drawing with already-qualified Angola.
The African country has been locked in a brutal civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - a paramilitary group that has been trying to seize control of the country from its army being led by General Abdelfattah al-Burhan.
The 19-month conflict has caused acute hunger and disease across the country. Both sides are accused of impeding aid deliveries, the RSF by looting and the army by bureaucratic delays.
(Production: Essam Omran Al-Fetori, El Tayyeb Siddig, Hani Amara, Mussab Al-Khairalla, Heba Fouad, TareK Fahmy) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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