JOHANNESBURG: Sudan overcame the handicap of being unable to play at home due to a civil war by defeating Niger 1-0 when 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying kicked off on Wednesday.
They were the only victors with the other three matches, between Comoros and Gambia, Libya and Rwanda and Tanzania and Ethiopia, all drawn.
Fighting between the national army and a paramilitary force in Sudan erupted in April 2023, forcing the national team to train and play abroad since.
Sudan hosted Niger in Juba, capital of neighboring South Sudan, and a 51st-minute goal from Thailand-based Abo Eisa secured maximum Group F points.
Comoros were another country who could not play at home because there is no international-standard stadium in the country.
They hosted Gambia in the Moroccan Atlantic city of El Jadida and broke the Group A deadlock on 37 minutes through Youssouf M’Changama.
Saudi Pro League midfielder Musa Barrow levelled in first-half added time for the Gambians, and there were no further goals.
The Group D opener between Libya and Rwanda in Tripoli also finished 1-1 with Subhi al Dhawi netting after 17 minutes and Innocent Nshuli equalising two minutes into the second half.
Ethiopia did not manage one shot on target as they drew 0-0 with Tanzania in Group H in Dar es Salaam.
There are seven qualifiers scheduled for Thursday with four former African champions — Algeria, Congo Brazzaville, Ghana and Tunisia — among the nations in action.
Homeless Sudan begin AFCON campaign with victory
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Homeless Sudan begin AFCON campaign with victory
- They were the only victors with the other three matches, between Comoros and Gambia, Libya and Rwanda and Tanzania and Ethiopia, all drawn
- Sudan hosted Niger in Juba, capital of neighboring South Sudan, and a 51st-minute goal from Thailand-based Abo Eisa secured maximum Group F points
Ripper GC signs Australian rising star Elvis Smylie ahead of 2026 LIV Golf season
- Breakout Queenslander joins Australia’s team as Ripper GC invests in the future of Australian golf
NEW YORK/AUSTRALIA: Ripper GC of the LIV Golf League announced the signing of Australian rising star Elvis Smylie on Thursday.
The team have secured one of the country’s top young talents as they continue to champion Australian golf globally. Smylie, 23, joins a roster that already blends seasoned champions with a competitive core.
He arrives after a breakout 2024-25 professional run that included a statement win at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
He joins Captain Cam Smith, one of the most accomplished Australian players; Marc Leishman, who delivered Ripper GC’s lone individual victory at LIV Golf Miami in 2025; and Lucas Herbert, a multiple international champion known for his consistency and short game.
“Growing up in Australia, you understand what golf means back home — the history, the mateship, and the pride that comes with representing your country,” Smylie said.
“To join Ripper GC, led by my long-term mentor, Cam Smith, at a time when Australian golf is growing the way it is means a lot to me. I’m proud to be part of something that embodies where the game has been, and where it’s going next.”
Smylie is a former recipient of the Cam Smith Scholarship for promising Australian golfers. He is the son of former Australian tennis doubles star Liz Smylie.
He had a defining stretch in late 2024, capturing his first professional victory at the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisement Western Australia Open, and then one month later winning the Australian PGA Championship.
“Signing Elvis is a huge moment, not just for Ripper GC, but for Australian golf,” said Smith.
“He represents the next wave of Australian talent coming through at a time when the sport is absolutely booming back home. Elvis has already shown he can win under pressure, compete against world-class fields, and perform on big stages.”
More than 4 million Australians played golf in the past year, marking the most sustained period of growth in the sport in more than three decades. Junior participation and club membership continue to surge nationwide.
“Cam’s vision has always been to provide a pathway for young Australian golfers to excel on the global stage,” said Ripper GC General Manager Nick Adams.
“Elvis represents the best of all of the young crop of players currently in Australia, and we believe that his playing ability gives us the best chance of success in 2026 as a team.
“We are incredibly excited to have him as part of the group, and we look forward to helping him in his golf journey to become an elite player.”
Australian fans will see the new Ripper GC lineup at the supercharged LIV Golf Adelaide, Australia’s premier golf event. The tournament returns to The Grange Golf Club from Feb. 12 to 15.
A three-time winner of World’s Best Golf Event, LIV Golf Adelaide has drawn more than 260,000 fans and contributed over $217 million to South Australia’s economy since the event’s inception in 2023.
The 2025 event generated a record $81.46 million.
