Sudan’s Al-Merreikh football team has selected Juba Stadium as the venue for its matches in the African Club Championship.
The civil war has seen Sudan’s domestic sports activities suspended, and Al Hilal and Al Merreikh, the two biggest clubs, have been forced to seek safety elsewhere.
This year, Sudan is represented by both Al-Merreikh and Al-Hilal in the championship, alongside two other teams competing in the African Confederation Cup.
According to a letter obtained by Radio Tamazuj, Al-Merreikh asked the Sudanese Football Association to convey gratitude to their South Sudanese counterparts for their ongoing support. This support played a significant role in the decision to opt for Juba Stadium as the main venue for the club’s African matches.
The club also requested details on the stadium’s capacity, compliance with Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards, and the availability of training facilities.
Muyassar, a sports analyst and former Al-Merreikh coordinator, underscored the importance of this choice in an interview with Radio Tamazuj. He highlighted that selecting Juba Stadium is beneficial for Al-Merreikh because of the team’s large fan base in Juba.
However, he voiced concerns about Al-Merreikh’s involvement in the Mauritanian league, which adds complexity to travel arrangements between Juba and Nouakchott.
