The FC Den Bosch midfielder, who plays in the Dutch second division and was born and raised in the Netherlands, is part of a Sudanese national team in exile, forced to play its 'home' matches far from its own land due to a civil war that has raged for two and a half years.
In Morocco, the Sudanese will be playing for more than just football, hoping to bring smiles to a nation torn apart by one of the worst humanitarian crises in history (12 million displaced, 25 million suffering from famine, over 150,000 dead).
Anna: You arrived in Morocco three days ago. What are your first impressions of the organisation and the setting?
Sheddy: "So far, everything is going well. The training pitch is of good quality, and the hotel is very well organised. The only downside is the weather—it’s rainy and quite cold. Personally, I’m used to this climate coming from the Netherlands, but for my teammates, it’s tougher; they’re struggling with the cold!"
This is your first Africa Cup of Nations with Sudan. How does it feel to be here?
"It’s a huge moment for me. The qualifiers were a year ago, and I’ve been looking forward to this ever since. The last few months were stressful because I was injured for four months. I’ve only been fully fit for about six weeks. I was worried I’d miss the tournament, but thankfully I recovered in time."
You took part in the qualifying campaign, especially in that memorable win against Ghana. What do you remember about it?
"It was amazing and historic for us. We were in a really tough group, and everyone thought Ghana would go through and Sudan would be knocked out. But we did it, and everyone was overjoyed. Even though I didn’t play in those matches, I was at every team gathering. The coach was also thrilled to beat Ghana - even though he’s Ghanaian, he’s with Sudan now and was proud we managed to beat his home country."
'In Sudan, football is one of the few sources of happiness left'
What does it mean to you personally to wear the Sudan shirt?
"It’s a childhood dream come true. Since I was seven, I have told my friends that if I ever got the chance to play for Sudan, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. My parents were very proud, especially my father, who is fully Sudanese; my mother is half Sudanese. Playing in the AFCON is the pinnacle for any African player."
Sudan is going through a very tough time. Do you feel this tournament is about more than just football?
"Absolutely. The war has been going on for two and a half years now. For the people, football is one of the few sources of happiness left. We know we can bring them a bit of joy, and that’s what drives us to give our best. We feel a huge responsibility - it’s our job to make them happy. Whether we play or not, we train and prepare together. These 90 minutes mean a lot to us and to Sudan."
Do you feel that too, even though you weren’t born there?
"Yes, it’s a bit different, but I feel it because my parents are from there. I try to see things from their perspective. A big part of my family lives there. They’ve left the country now, but of course I think about them. It’s very sad to see what’s happening. I talk about it with my dad, and I often ask him how things are going. It doesn’t get much coverage in the European press. At first, my dad was stressed, but since my family left the country, it’s been better."
'I’ve never been to Sudan'
Do you think playing this AFCON for Sudan can help bring peace to your country?
"I think when we qualified, there was a brief moment of peace. I hope that if we do well, the war will end. But of course, it’s not just up to us. It’s more complicated than that."
Since you haven’t played at home for three years, do you feel people are really behind you?
"I see it on social media - they really support us. I’ve never been to Sudan, so for me it’s a bit of a different feeling, but I can imagine for my teammates who live there, it’s really important to them."
You’ve never been to Sudan, not even before the war. How do you experience this connection with the fans?
"It’s a special feeling, that’s true. My teammates who have lived there tell me how beautiful the country is and how much people love football. Today, because of the insecurity, it’s impossible to go there, except maybe to Port Sudan near the border. I always wanted to visit Sudan growing up, but my mother didn’t have a passport at the time and didn’t want me to go alone with my father. She always felt it wasn’t safe enough to travel there."
Is the situation in the country a frequent topic in the dressing room?
"Surprisingly, not really. Of course, the players call their families, but we don’t necessarily talk about it as a group. It’s a painful subject, almost taboo out of respect. I only asked a friend about it a few days ago - he’s from a region where the war started - but no one really talks about it. If I were in their shoes, I think I’d do the same.
"But it’s a huge motivation. We fight for our families and for the people who support us everywhere. In every country I’ve been to, there are many Sudanese people. All over the world - Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia - they’re everywhere."
'I’m lucky to have been born in the Netherlands'
Does having to play far from home affect you?
"To be honest, I feel more at peace here because I’m a bit removed from everything there. We usually don’t stay long, two weeks at most. The only thing is that the travel is a bit long since I come from the Netherlands and have to go all the way to Africa or Asia. We usually play in Libya or have training camps in Saudi Arabia. My first camp in 2022 was in Saudi Arabia."
How is it integrating into a team where players come from such different backgrounds (Australia, Thailand, Europe)?
"The language barrier is my biggest challenge. I speak Lebanese Arabic, while they speak the Sudanese dialect. So I mostly communicate in English with some of them, and the teammate from Australia helps me a lot with translations. The coach, who is Ghanaian and speaks English, helps me a lot, too. Despite that, we’re like a big family, with the older players supporting the younger ones."
Do you feel a difference with the other players in the squad, most of whom were born and raised in Sudan?
"I can compare their lives to my parents, who also had to leave the country because of the war. I’m lucky to have been born in the Netherlands."
Does the fact that Sudan’s two biggest clubs now play in Rwanda affect the national team?
"No, I think it’s a good opportunity for them to play in a league. It’s always better than not playing at all. They’re happy to be able to compete, even if it’s not in Sudan."
'Giving them a chance to forget the war for 90 minutes'
Sportingly, you’re in a very tough group with Burkina Faso, Algeria, and Equatorial Guinea...
"Yes, it’s a tough group, but we have a chance. In football, anything is possible."
Your coach said he wants to win the AFCON. Do you share that ambition?
"That would be incredible. Sudan’s last win was in 1970. We’re taking it one game at a time, not looking too far ahead. We know we’re the underdogs, but that motivates us. Our strength is in defending well together and being very dangerous on the counterattack."
Any final message for Sudanese fans before the tournament starts?
"I want to say I’m very grateful for their support despite everything they’re going through. We’ll do everything we can to make them proud and give them a chance to forget the war for 90 minutes."