Al Hilal v Al Merrikh: Why Sudan Biggest Football Rivalry Is Bringing Hope to War-Torn Nation

War-torn Sudan has witnessed the long-awaited return of elite league football for the first time in more than two years, as eight of the country’s top clubs kicked off a special one-month competition to crown a national champion.

Against the backdrop of a devastating conflict that has displaced 12 million people and killed over 150,000 since April 2023, the Sudanese Elite Championship is offering a rare moment of unity and pride.

At the heart of this symbolic comeback are Sudan’s football giants, Al Hilal Omdurman and Al Merrikh. Together, they have dominated the domestic game since the league’s inception in 1965, winning all but four championships between them.

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Their fierce rivalry has defined Sudanese football culture for decades—and their return to home soil is being hailed as a powerful testament to the sport’s enduring importance even in the darkest times.

Last season, both clubs were forced to relocate their entire operations to Mauritania, on the far side of the continent, so they could remain active amid the conflict.

While based in exile, Al Hilal captured the league played there and went on to reach the quarter-finals of this year’s African Champions League, despite staging their “home” matches on neutral territory away from Sudan.

Now, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh are back, determined to compete in a domestic tournament that will also decide which clubs earn a place in next season’s continental competitions.

The tournament began over the weekend in the northern cities of Ad-Damer and Atbara, chosen for their relative safety compared to Khartoum, which has suffered extensive damage during the civil war.

Ad-Damer, about 430km from the capital, and Atbara, roughly 320km away, will host all matches over seven rounds of fixtures.

Al Hilal wasted no time making a statement, defeating Al Merghani Kassala in their opening match. Al Merrikh also marked their return with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ahly Madani.

The sense of anticipation is already building for their climactic derby showdown scheduled for July 22, a match that has always been the pinnacle of Sudanese club football but now carries an added layer of symbolism.

The other clubs taking part—Zamalek, Umm Rawaba, Al Amal Atbara, Hay Al Wadi Nyala, and Merrikh Al Abyad—will each play one match against every opponent, creating a round-robin sprint to the title.

With domestic football dormant for more than two years, players and supporters alike are treating every match as a celebration of survival and resilience.

For many Sudanese, simply seeing familiar team colors on local pitches has been an emotional experience. The tournament has given families a reason to gather, cheer, and believe that life can go on, even while the conflict remains unresolved.

While club football makes its comeback, Sudan’s national team continues its own historic quest.

The national side has not played a home fixture since March 2023, but later this year, they will compete in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco and pursue qualification for their first-ever FIFA World Cup.

In that context, the Elite Championship is more than a sports event—it is an expression of national identity and hope. For Al Hilal, Al Merrikh, and their millions of fans, football has become a powerful antidote to despair.