From the Nile Valley to Buenos Aires: Argentina… Sudan’s New Neighbour

Mustafa Abdelaziz Al-Batal

The sight of some Sudanese, few though they were, cheering for Argentina against Egypt in the World Cup was not merely a fleeting sporting preference. In my view, it was regrettable behaviour reflecting an attitude that contradicts the basic realities of geography and the logic of history.
Do we really need to point out that Sudan and Argentina share no historical, cultural or social ties that could justify such an alignment, while Sudan and Egypt are bound by deep connections forged by geography, the unity of the Nile Valley, a shared history, family and cultural ties, and mutual interests accumulated over centuries?!
It is customary in relations between peoples for individuals to support countries closest to them in terms of history, culture and geography when their own national team is not participating in a competition. We see this in many parts of the world, where ties of neighbourhood and regional belonging rise above sporting rivalry.
The natural position for the people of Sudan, therefore, should be to support Egypt as the people closest to them, rather than side with a competitor with whom they share neither bonds nor meaningful connections.
The matter reaches the height of ugliness when the cheering is directed against Egypt simply because it is Egypt—not out of affection for Argentina or admiration for its team. At that point, such support loses any legitimate sporting meaning and becomes a malicious political stance driven by motives unrelated to sport.
Naturally, this attitude cannot be understood in isolation from Sudan’s current political circumstances. Since the outbreak of the war in 2023, supporters of the Rapid Support Forces and their political allies have come to believe that Egypt supports the Sudanese army and the State politically and diplomatically, and stands alongside them in the ongoing conflict.
From this perspective, some saw the football match as an opportunity to express a political position and chose to support Argentina simply to spite Egypt.
Sport, ultimately, is not an arena for settling political scores. Football matches should not become occasions for displaying resentment or fuelling divisions.
Nor is it wise to hold the Egyptian people or the Egyptian national team responsible for political positions, whether real or perceived, or to celebrate the national team’s defeat. National football teams are not parties to armed conflicts or political struggles.
What remains reassuring is that the overwhelming majority of Sudanese people, both inside the country and across the diaspora, adopted the natural position and stood alongside millions of their brothers and sisters in Egypt, remaining faithful to the bonds of history, geography and shared destiny that unite the two peoples.
That is the image that truly reflects the conscience and sentiments of the Sudanese people, and it is far more representative of them than any aberrant position or discordant voice.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=15758