The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) has announced that three top Sudanese clubs have been granted permission to participate in the 2025/26 Rwanda Premier League season.
The clubs, including Al Merrikh SC, Al Hilal SC, and El Ahli SC Wad Medani, will temporarily compete in Rwanda’s top-tier league due to the suspension of football activities in Sudan, as a result of the ongoing civil war.
In an official statement, FERWAFA confirmed the development, noting that the decision has been approved by both the federation and the Rwanda Premier League Board and is now awaiting final ratification from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) is pleased to inform the public, stakeholders, and the wider football community that three of Sudan’s most prominent football clubs have officially been granted approval to participate in the 2025/26 Rwanda Premier League Championship,” the statement read.
The 2025/26 season is already underway, with four matchdays completed. Revised fixtures are expected to be announced once CAF gives the final approval.
Football in Sudan has been in disarray due to the civil war that erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti.
With the nation facing instability, the Sudan Premier League was abandoned, forcing clubs to seek alternative avenues to continue playing competitively.
This is not the first time Sudanese clubs have relocated. Last year, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, who have dominated Sudanese football with 49 league titles between them, temporarily featured in the Mauritania Premier League.
The inclusion of these clubs in the Rwanda Premier League marks a historic moment for African football cooperation and provides the Sudanese teams with a lifeline to maintain professional activity amid national turmoil.
