The power struggle between Sudan’s army and a paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Force (RSF), has also forced more than 12 million people to flee their homes, with widespread famine and reports of genocide in the western Darfur region.
Unsurprisingly, football has taken a back seat. Stadiums have been destroyed and the league halted.
Two of the country’s biggest club sides, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, are currently playing in the Rwandan league, having spent last season in the Mauritanian top flight.
“We don’t have a league, we don’t have anything, but we can’t complain because people in my country, they can’t eat, they don’t have food,” says Mano.
But despite all the challenges – including having to play their home Afcon qualifying matches in neutral countries – Sudan have reached the finals for only the fourth time since 1976.
Ghanaian head coach Kwesi Appiah has had to convince players to compete without guarantees of payment and has offered consolation on “several occasions” when squad members have lost family members.
“We try to let players know, even though they’re gone, [they’re] looking at you and what you can do now for the nation,” says the 65-year-old, who took charge in September 2023.
“I need to give the player maybe two or three days off, to make sure he comes back to himself.”
Some of the players have not been home in years, with many lucky enough to find a new club overseas.
Like several others in the Falcons of Jediane squad, Mano has made the move to Libya, first joining Al Ahly and now Al Akhdar.
But the former Al Hilal man did not escape Sudan before experiencing a death threat of his own.
“The rebels used to stop us and make fun of us on the road,” he explains.
“They’d say things like ‘You play for Al Hilal – what is Al Hilal? I support Al Merrikh. I can kill you right now and nobody will question me’.
“I cannot forget this story until I die.”
