Abobaker Eisa: Football as a Beacon of Hope Amid Sudan’s Crisis

Abobaker Eisa made his international debut for Sudan in November 2023.

The forward has expressed that Sudan’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is instilling a sense of hope among its citizens, who are grappling with the effects of civil war.

Since April 2023, a power struggle between the army and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) has plunged Sudan into what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 150,000 individuals and has forced more than 12 million people to flee their homes, with widespread famine and reports of genocide particularly in the western region of Darfur.

Due to the conflict, Sudan was compelled to conduct all of its qualifying matches away from home. Nevertheless, the team successfully secured a spot in the Afcon for only the fourth time since 1976.

As the 1970 champions prepare to face Algeria (December 24), Equatorial Guinea (December 28), and Burkina Faso (December 31) in the group stage, Eisa emphasizes that each match represents a significant opportunity to provide a distraction for those back home.

“There’s a lot of bad things going on in Sudan. As players, we understand the importance of football for our nation,” Eisa remarked during an interview with BBC World Service. “In these tough times, we aim to bring smiles to people’s faces through our sport. Even qualifying for the Afcon and having fans there to support us brings a sense of hope.”

Eisa, who has previously played for various English Football League clubs such as Scunthorpe United, Bradford City, and Grimsby Town, is currently with Thai side Chonburi. Meanwhile, his teammates from Sudanese clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh have also had to relocate due to the ongoing political instability, first to Mauritania and now to Rwanda.

Despite their geographical separation from Sudan, the players remain deeply affected by the conflict. Eisa describes the situation as both “disheartening” and a source of “strength.”

“It’s hard to ignore the war. Many of us have family members still in Sudan, and countless families have been impacted,” Eisa explained. “We often discuss what’s happening and explore ways to assist, whether through donations or other means. Knowing that we can contribute somehow gives us strength, even though it can be discouraging at times.”

He concluded, “As long as we fight for our cause on the field, I believe it will bring happiness to those back home.”