Sudan's women's football team is yet to win a match, but members say they have scored a victory by overcoming challenges including discrimination and a coup to play the game.
"The girls are still taking their very first steps in international football," said coach Salma al-Majidi, training the team that was formed just last year.
A few years ago, the prospect of a Sudanese women's national team was inconceivable, given the strict policing of social mores under the hardline regime of deposed autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
But within months of his ouster in 2019, and on the back of mass protests against his rule, Sudan launched its first women's football tournament.
In 2021, Sudan's first women's national team was born, AFP reported.
The team has since taken part in the Arab Women's Cup 2021, playing against Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon.
It also played against Algeria, but it has yet to claim any victories, including in its latest two games against South Sudan.
"They have much less experience than the other teams," Majidi told AFP after a friendly with neighboring South Sudan in February, which Sudan lost 6-0. "But their performance is getting better."
In a second friendly against South Sudan later last month, Sudan lost again, 3-0.
