Sudanese giants Al Hilal and Al Merreikh made triumphant returns to domestic football with opening-day victories in the Sudan Elite League, marking their first competitive appearances on home soil since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023.
Both clubs kicked off their campaigns on Friday in the Nile State, where the elite phase of the national championship is being staged until July 22.
The league, limited to matches in the cities of Atbara and Ad-Damer, is serving as the qualifying competition to determine Sudan’s representatives in next season’s CAF interclub tournaments.
Hilal Omdurman, under new coach Khalid Bakhit following the departure of Florent Ibenge to Azam FC in Tanzania, secured a 2-0 win over Al-Merghani Kassala.
The match, held at the Ad-Damer Stadium, saw club captain Mohamed Abdelrahman mark his return from injury with both goals.
It was Hilal’s first official fixture in Sudan since April last year, and the team featured an all-Sudanese starting eleven.
Meanwhile, Merreikh also opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Ahly Madani, further setting the tone for a fiercely competitive league phase.
The Sudan Elite League, compressed into the month of July due to ongoing security concerns, will see Hilal face Zamalek Umm Rawaba on July 7, followed by matches against Ahly Madani (July 10), Al Amal Atbara (July 13), Hay Al Wadi Nyala (July 16), and Merreikh Al Abyad (July 19).
The highly anticipated derby between Hilal and Merreikh, who faced off twice in Mauritania during last season’s displaced campaign, is scheduled for July 22 in Ad-Damer.
The current edition of the Elite League holds added significance, as it not only marks the symbolic return of top-tier football to Sudan but also determines which two clubs will earn the right to represent the country in continental competitions.
