Rwanda approves 3 Sudanese Clubs for 2025/26 Premier League season | OneFootball

Al Hilal, Al Merrikh and Ahli Wad Madani to compete in Rwanda’s top division pending CAF approval

Rwanda approves 3 Sudanese Clubs for 2025/26 Premier League season

In unprecedented move, the Rwanda Football Federation FERWAFA has officially approved the participation of 3 Sudanese clubs (Al Hilal Omdurman, Al Merrikh and Ahli Wad Madani) in the Rwandan Premier League for the ongoing 2025 /26 season.

The decision, first reported by The Athletic comes as Sudan continues to suffer from devastating civil war that has forced the suspension of domestic football since 2023.

FERWAFA said in statement:

Details of the arrangement

The move still awaits formal approval from the Confederation of African Football CAF.

The Rwandan league which has already completed 4 round, will now update its fixture list to accommodate the 3 Sudanese club.

Geographically Rwanda lies approximately 2500 kilometres south of Sudan, separated by South Sudan & Uganda.

Last season both Al Hilal & Al Merrikh temporarily joined the Mauritanian Premier League finishing first and 6th respectively though Hilal were not eligible to claim the domestic title as foreign entrant.

Hilal also reached the CAF Champions League quarter finals continuing their reputation as 1 of Africa’s most consistent clubs.

Football under fire

In Jul 2025 Al Hilal won shortened version of the Sudanese Premier League, contested by 8 team to determine CAF representatives for the current season.

Matches were played in Atbara & Ad Damer, far from the war ravaged capital Khartoum.

Sudan’s civil war ongoing since April 2023 has claimed over 150000 lives and displaced around 12 million people.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the situation as "nightmare of violence, hunger, disease and displacement"

Despite the crisis, the Sudan national team has qualified for the upcoming AFCON 2025 in Morocco drawn in Group E alongside Algeria, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.

Seventeen of Sudan’s internationals still play in domestic clubs , most now displaced to Rwanda or neighbouring African leagues.