Tragedy has struck Sudan ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures, as a devastating landslide has destroyed an entire village in the country’s western Darfur region, leaving an estimated 1,000 people dead.
According to international news agencies, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, which controls the area, issued a statement late on Monday confirming the disaster in the Marra Mountains. The group reported that almost all the village’s inhabitants perished, with only one survivor found.
This heartbreaking development comes as the Sudan national team, under the leadership of Ghanaian coach Akwasi Appiah, prepare for two critical matches in Group B of the qualifiers. Sudan are set to face Senegal on Friday, 5 September, before taking on Togo on Tuesday, 9 September.
Group B also features DR Congo, Mauritania, and South Sudan.
In a time of national mourning, the Loop extends its deepest condolences to the people of Sudan, the families affected, and especially to Coach Appiah and his players, some of whom may have lost relatives in this tragic event.
Fellow Ghanaians are humbly urged to remember Coach Appiah and the Sudanese team in their prayers as they navigate this profoundly difficult moment, both on and off the pitch. Coach Appiah has already demonstrated his resilience and expertise in sports psychology during testing circumstances, and we believe he will once again guide his team with courage and strength.
We further call on sports journalists in Ghana and beyond to show solidarity with Sudan by sparing a moment on their programmes to commiserate, empathise, and pray for the team during this trying time.
For Immediate Release
