Sudan's U-17 Women's Soccer Team Makes Historic Return to International Play Amidst Civil War

While the men's World Cup dominates global sports headlines this month, a profoundly different soccer milestone unfolded on a quiet pitch in Casablanca. Sudan's Under-17 women's national team stepped onto the grass at Larbi Zaouli Stadium, their bright red jerseys contrasting sharply with the green field. It marked the country's first appearance in international women's soccer since a devastating civil war erupted in 2023.[1][2]

The young squad traveled to Morocco to participate in the qualifying rounds for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. They faced Comoros, an older, fitter, and vastly more experienced opponent featuring players who compete in European leagues. The results were lopsided, with Sudan conceding 30 goals over two matches.[1][4]

Yet, the heavy defeats entirely missed the point of the victory. For a team composed mostly of teenage schoolgirls—some of whom had recently fled active conflict zones—simply arriving at the stadium was a triumph of logistics, courage, and resilience. Many of the players broke down in tears at the final whistle, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the moment.[1][6]

"My goal is to lift up soccer in my country," seventeen-year-old team captain Nura Mohamed explained following the matches. "It's a beautiful, unique feeling because, at the end of the day, I just love playing." Her words captured the essence of a squad that was assembled not to conquer the scoreboard, but to keep a fragile dream alive.[1][2]

The decision to field an Under-17 team for Olympic qualifiers was born of necessity. Unable to safely assemble a senior women's squad in time due to the ongoing war, the Sudanese soccer federation entered the younger team to avoid forfeiting their hard-won place in the international qualifiers.[1][2]

Veteran Sudanese soccer coach Burhan Tia, who oversees the women's national teams, acknowledged the massive gap in experience. The squad had only been able to train together for a few weeks prior to the tournament. "The difference between us and the others is huge," Tia noted, emphasizing that their opponents had years of structural support that Sudan's schoolgirls simply lacked.[1][6]

To understand the weight of this moment requires looking back at the immense hurdles women's soccer has faced in Sudan. For decades, under the rule of former President Omar al-Bashir, restrictive public order laws strictly regulated women's behavior in public spaces and effectively banned them from participating in official, organized sports.[5][7]

That paradigm shifted dramatically following the Sudanese revolution of 2018 and 2019. The transitional government abolished the restrictive laws, and in September 2019, Sudan established its first official women's soccer league, featuring 21 teams from various cities. It was heralded as a new era for women's rights and athletic development in the country.[5][7]

The momentum continued to build over the next few years. By August 2021, the senior women's national team had gained recognition from the Confederation of African Football and made its international debut at the Arab Women's Cup in Egypt. For a brief window, the infrastructure of women's sports was rapidly expanding.[5]

Then, in April 2023, civil war erupted across Sudan. The conflict collapsed the domestic women's league, destroyed infrastructure, and scattered players and coaches. All organized sporting events were indefinitely halted, threatening to erase the progress made since the revolution.[1][5]

Resurrecting the national team for the 2026 qualifiers was a logistical miracle. Manal Ali Bushra, head of the women's soccer committee, detailed how girls traveled immense distances just to attend the abbreviated training camps. Many were separated from their families, risking their safety to pursue the opportunity to represent their country.[1][2]

The team's return to the pitch was not limited to Morocco. Simultaneously, Sudan fielded a squad at the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women's Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. There, they faced regional opponents including Kenya, Tanzania, and fellow debutant Somalia.[3][4]

While they struggled defensively in Tanzania, the tournament provided a historic breakthrough. During the competition, players Fatin Fadol and Naswa Abbas found the back of the net, scoring Sudan's first two international goals of the U-17 campaign. The strikes were celebrated wildly by the bench, symbolizing tangible progress on the field.[3]

Regional football authorities praised the effort. CECAFA officials highlighted that providing a competitive platform for debutant nations like Sudan and Somalia is essential for the long-term growth of the women's game in East and Central Africa, regardless of the initial growing pains.[3]

Beyond the pitch, the existence of the team serves as a powerful defiance of lingering social taboos. While some critics within the country still oppose women's participation in sports, the sight of these young athletes competing internationally proves that the cultural shifts achieved in 2019 cannot be easily undone.[2][7]

As the players return from their June campaigns, the future of the domestic league remains uncertain. Yet, the tears shed in Casablanca and the goals scored in Dar es Salaam have cemented a legacy. Against the backdrop of war, a new generation of Sudanese women has firmly claimed their right to play.[1][7]