Khartoum (AFP)

The first women's football championship in Sudan's history began Monday with a match at the Khartoum stadium, warmly applauded by supporters and diplomats, according to an AFP journalist.

This women's league, which includes 21 clubs, is a first in this country led for nearly 30 years by General Omar al-Bashir - who came to power thanks to a coup supported by Islamists - until his death. destitution under the pressure of the street on April 11th.

The first match was between the Tahadi and Difaa clubs in the capital's stadium. The cities of Madani (east), Al-Obeid (center) and Kadugli (south) will also host matches.

"Civil power, civil power", chanted the crowd at the beginning of the meeting, while others shouted "Kandaka, Kandaka", referring to the Nubian queens who marked the history of the region in antiquity.

Following an agreement reached in August between the army, which took power after the fall of Bashir, and the leaders of the protest, Sudan has seen the establishment of transitional institutions to power. civil. The military-led, civilian-led Sovereign Council overseeing the transition includes two women.

"This is a historic meeting, not just for women's sport but for all of Sudan," said Sports Minister Wala Essam, who attended the match alongside Sudanese and foreign diplomats.

- A dream" -

"We will pay specific attention to women's sport and women's football," he added.

After the match, the players let their joy explode, claiming that this moment would have been unimaginable a year ago.

"Before the revolution in Sudan, my plan was to go abroad to play, but now I can play in my homeland," said Asma Abubakr, dressed in the Tahadi team's green jersey.

For Juan Essam of the Difaa club, it's a "dream" that becomes reality. "What happened today is just fantastic," she adds, moved. "For the first time, I played in a stadium, it was my dream."

Measures to liberalize society are expected from the transitional period of a little over three years in which the country is committed, particularly in terms of freedom of expression, gender equality but also in the sport and the arts.

A member of FIFA since 1948 and co-founder of the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa, Sudan is far from being a pioneer of the continent in football female, hindered by the adoption of sharia law (Islamic law) in 1983.

© 2019 AFP