The Sudan Football Association was founded in 1936, and consequently became one of the earliest football clubs in Africa. Prior to the establishment of the Football Association, Sudan had begun to experience football brought into the country by British colonizers from the beginning of the 20th century through Egypt. There were other Sudanese clubs established at this moment included Al-Hilal Omdurman, Al-Merrikh, which helped to spread the popularity of football within the country. It was the Khartoum League became the first national football league in Sudan and laid the foundation for the future growth of Sudanese football.
Being a football player from the beginning, Sudan was quick to join FIFA in 1948. shortly after, Sudanese officials were instrumental together alongside Ethiopian, South African and Egyptian counterparts, in forming the Confederation of African Football in the Sudanese capital city of Khartoum in the year 1957. After the formation of CAF, Sudan participated in the 1957 African Cup of Nations, the first ever historic Africa Cup of Nations which Sudan hosted. The national team placed third, and South Africa was banned over apartheid.
In the early days, Sudan produced many of the top players, including Mustafa Azhari, the captain of Sudan at the time; Nasr El-Din Abbas, who was the top scorer in Sudan in the national team of football; Siddiq Manzul, who was a key leader in Sudan's forwardteam; Ali Gagarin with his meteoric capability. Sudan was then crowned champions in its first major trophy, in the year 1970. African Cup of Nations, their sole African trophy to now.
