A profile of Sudan ahead of the African Cup of Nations - including past record, recent form and information on their players and coach.

PAST RECORD

Sudan hosted the first Nations Cup tournament in 1957 and won it in 1970 when they hosted again, after stints as beaten finalists in 1959 and 1963. Their last appearance at the finals was in 1976.

RECENT FORM

Sudan have played recent tournaments at the Pan Arab Games and the East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup with an under-23 side, some of whom are likely to be picked for the Cup of Nations. They beat Tunisia in September to finish top of their qualifying group.

COACH

Mohamed Abdallah has led Sudan to their first Cup appearance in 32 years, without taking a single cent for his efforts.

The 54-year-old former national team captain is a full-time trainer at Sudanese club Al Merreikh, where he has been assistant to the German Otto Pfister over the last season.

Al Merreikh pay Abdallah his $5,000 monthly salary and allow him to handle the national team without any compensation.

As a player, Abdallah was a Sudanese international between 1975 and 1986. He took over as national team coach in September 2004.

PLAYERS

Faisal Agab finished as the top goal-scorer in the 2008 Cup of Nations qualifiers, netting six goals in as many games.

Midfielder Haitham Mostafa is the king pin of Sudan's midfield, where his playing abilities are a key ingredient in their game plan.

The majority of Sudan's players are drawn from Khartoum clubs Al Hilal and Al Merreikh, who dominate domestic competition.

Al Hilal successfully defended their league title in November and Al Merreikh beat them in December's cup final.

Plans have been mooted to naturalise several Nigerian footballers playing in Sudan to allow them to compete at the finals.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Bahaeldin Abdallah (Al Merreikh), Mahjoub El Moez (Al Hilal), Akram El Hadi Salem (Al Merreikh)

Defenders: Mohamed Ali Khider (Al Hilal), Ahmed Al Basha (Al Merreikh), Musa Al Tayeb (Al Merreikh), Omar Bakheit (Al Hilal), Amir Damar (Al Merreikh), Alaeldin Ahmed Gibril (Al Hilal), Khalid Hassan (Al Hilal)

Midfielders: Yousef Alaeldin (Al Hilal), Hamouda Bashir (Al Hilal), Badreldin El Doud (Al Merreikh), Saifeldin Ali Idris (Al Hilal), Hassan Isaac Korongo (Al Hilal), Rtshard Justin Lado (Al Hilal), Mugahid Mohamed (Al Merreikh), Haitham Mostafa (Al Hilal), Mohamed Tahir (Al Hilal)

Forwards: Abdelhamid Amari (Al Merreikh), Faisal Agab (Al Merreikh), Alaeldin Babiker (Al Merreikh), Haitham Tambal (Al Merreikh)

Reuters