John Mano, the 24-year-old Sudan international striker, has delivered a harrowing account of the psychological toll of the conflict ravaging his homeland, including the brutal execution of his closest friend. In an interview with the BBC, Mano recalled the moment his childhood companion, Mido, was killed after being struck by more than 20 bullets. Mido had reportedly been intercepted and accused of working for the army while returning to Khartoum to retrieve travel documents for a journey to the Egyptian border.
Mano also shared a chilling personal encounter with armed militants who threatened his life during the chaos. He described being stopped on the road by a gunman who mocked him: “You play for Al-Hilal, and I support Al-Merrikh. I could kill you right now, and no one would stop me.” The encounter underscored the arbitrary violence and breakdown of order that have defined the Sudanese conflict since its inception.
Despite the total suspension of domestic football and the destruction of the country’s stadiums, the Sudanese national team has defied the odds. Competing entirely on foreign soil, they secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, famously knocking out Ghana in the process. Mano suggested that these sporting triumphs serve as a rare source of hope for a nation in crisis. However, he noted that the hardships faced by professional athletes pale in comparison to the plight of ordinary civilians.
“We cannot complain,” Mano concluded, “when there are people who cannot find food or anything to eat.” His testimony offers a bleak window into the humanitarian catastrophe where even national heroes are not spared the trauma of displacement and the constant threat of the gun.
