Sudan names controversial Eldin Ali for Ghana match

On Mar 19, 2013

Sudan have included defender Saif Eldin Ali in their 23-man squad for this weekend’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Black Stars.

Eldin Ali, whose ineligibility in the opener against Zambia’s Chipolopolo cost the Desert Hawks three points, which has dented their chances is now free to play.

Head Coach Mohamed ‘Mazda’ Abdallah according to a source close the GNA Sports named am entirely locally-based squad for the Group D clash with giants, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh supplying the chunk of the players for the encounter billed for the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi.

Merrikh is the largest contributor with 11-players including veteran midfielder Haitham Mustafa, who crossed carpet this season after more than a decade with bitterest rivals, Hilal.

Hilal has eight players including locally adored striker Mudathir Al-Taieb, nicknamed after former Brazil forward ‘Careca’, Ahly Shandi has two players with one each from Al Hilal Kadougli and Al Khartoum.

There is also a place for Hilal forward, Mohamed Ahmed Bashir, scorer of Sudan’s first ever goal in 36-years at the Africa Cup of Nations, in a 2-2 draw with Angola at the 2012 edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that only 19 players will make the trip to Accra on Thursday, March 21.

The Desert Hawks’ last game at the same venue on October 10 ended barren in a qualifier for the 2012 Africa of Nations.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Al Moez Mahjoub (Al Hilal), Akram El Hadi (Al Merrikh), Abdalrahmane Aldeyae (Ahly Shandi)

Defenders: Saif Eldin Ali, Mowaia Ali (Al Hilal), Musaab Omer, Balla Jabir, Najm Eldin Abdallah, Ahmad Abdallah (Al Merrikh)

Midfielders: Haitham Mustafa, Ala’a Eldin Yousif, Faisal Musa, Amir Kamal (Al Merrikh), Nizar Hamid, Omer Bakheit, Muhanad Al Tahir (Al Hilal), Hamza Adam (Al Hilal Kadougli), Hamoda Basher (Ahli Shandi)

Forwards: Ragi Abdalati, Ramadan Agab (Al Merrikh), Mudathir Al Taieb, Mohamed Ahmed Bashir (Al Hilal), Mohamed Abdelmoneim (Al Khartoum)

Source: GNA