World Cup Trophy makes stop in Africa ahead of 2018 Russia event

The FIFA World Cup Trophy made a stop in Sudan, one of the many on the 54-country tour of the World Cup ahead of the 2018 event in Russia.

This was the first time the trophy has been to Sudan – a soccer-fanatic country that has not come close to qualifying for the World Cup Finals.

Fans had the chance to pose with the trophy at a ceremony where there was music and various games and activities on the theme of football.

“This is huge! I hope that the trophy will one day be in the hands of the captain of Sudan’s national team. I hope we can organise the World Cup and win the cup here in Khartoum,” enthused Samah Al-Sadiq, a football fan.

The tour of the World Cup trophy is also an opportunity for Russia, the host country, to sell itself before the finals.

Moscow has relaxed its visa regulations for foreign football fans and has invested billions of dollars in stadia, hotels and other infrastructure, as the Kremlin seeks to improve Russia’s image.

The trophy left Sudan on Friday for Ethiopia, then head to Kenya. It will go through Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and then Egypt, before it leaves Africa for Europe.