Al Hilal awarded Sudan Premier League title after appeal ruling

Al Hilal have officially been confirmed as champions of the Sudan Premier League for the 2025/2026 season after the Sudan Football Association’s Appeals Committee overturned its previous decision in favour of rivals Al Merreikh.

The committee accepted Al Hilal’s request for a review and cancelled the ruling that had transferred the points from the two sides’ league match to Al Merreikh.

Al Hilal had originally secured the title by beating Al Merreikh in the derby. However, Al Merreikh lodged a formal complaint, arguing that some of Al Hilal’s naturalised players had not been eligible to take part.

After considering the case, the Appeals Committee initially ruled that Al Hilal should forfeit the match and awarded the championship to Al Merreikh. That decision has now been reversed.

In an official statement, Al Hilal said: “Our club recovered the Premier League title on Tuesday through a decision by the Appeals Committee of the Sudan Football Association, which accepted the review request submitted by the club in both form and substance, and cancelled its previous decision to transfer the points from the derby match to Al Merreikh Khartoum.”

The club said the committee had met on 9 and 10 November to reconsider the case and examine the documents submitted with the appeal.

It added: “The committee, chaired by Judge Mohammed Hamad al-Bashir, the head of the committee, and including Mohammed Issa, Dr Zuhair Abdulmalik and Legal Adviser al-Zein al-Dukhairi as a member and rapporteur, held two meetings on 9 and 10 November.

“After reviewing the request and the accompanying documents, it decided to approve the result of the match as recorded in the referee’s report.”

The latest ruling means the title returns to Al Hilal Omdurman, who said the decision restored the outcome achieved on the pitch and ended the uncertainty surrounding the championship.

“Under the decision, the title returned to the trophy cabinet of Sayed El Balad, allowing the club to continue affirming its status as the most successful club in Sudan in terms of trophies,” the statement added.

The club’s information also lists the CAF Champions League, Horoya and 28 November 2026 alongside Al Hilal Omdurman.