Kwesi Appiah, the former Black Stars coach, believes he can successfully lead Sudan to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. 
Appiah and his Sudan team have unexpectedly taken the top spot in Group B, leaving behind former African champions Senegal and 2023 AFCON semi-finalist the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With his experience in leading Ghana to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Appiah is now striving to become the first African coach to guide two different nations to the prestigious tournament.
“I firmly believe we can achieve this,” he told FIFA’s media channel.
Sudan will have a two-point lead when they face group favorites Senegal in March 2025 during the return qualifiers.
“We started this campaign with a clear objective: to amass as many points as possible at home. Our game against Congo DR (a 1-0 win) was indicative of the determination of the players, who kept going until the end to secure this crucial victory. After also beating Mauritania away 2-0, the players will go into the upcoming challenges with confidence,” he added.
“These results have given us an advantage ahead of our clash with Senegal in March 2025. The Sudanese federation is also doing a remarkable job, providing excellent conditions for us. Everyone is contributing to the success of this qualifying campaign.”
Sudan coach Appiah was given the responsibility of leading the team back to the Africa Cup of Nations in September 2023.