Al Hilal SC was legally stripped of Sudan Premier League title, Al Merriekh crowned champions
Al Hilal have been stripped of the 2025/26 Sudanese Premier League title after being found guilty of violating the league's foreign-player regulations during the decisive derby against Al Merriekh. Following a successful appeal by their rivals, the Appeals Committee awarded Al Merriekh a 2-0 victory and three points, a decision that reshaped the final standings and handed them the championship.
The title race took a dramatic turn after the final league derby between Sudan's two biggest clubs, Al Hilal and Al Merriekh, became the subject of an official protest.
During the match, Al Hilal fielded eight foreign players, despite Sudan Premier League regulations allowing a maximum of only five foreign players to be used by each team in a single match. Al Merriekh, on the other hand, complied with the competition rules by using the permitted five foreign players.
Believing their rivals had breached the competition regulations, Al Merriekh submitted an official complaint and appealed the outcome of the match, arguing that Al Hilal had gained an unfair sporting advantage by exceeding the foreign-player limit.
After examining the case, the Appeals Committee ruled in favour of Al Merriekh, confirming that Al Hilal had indeed violated the league's player eligibility rules. As a consequence, the committee overturned the result of the derby and awarded Al Merriekh a 2-0 victory, along with the three points.
The disciplinary decision proved decisive in the championship race, as the additional points moved Al Merriekh above Al Hilal in the final league table. Al Hilal consequently lost their status as league champions, with the Sudanese Premier League title immediately transferred to their arch-rivals.
The ruling officially crowned Darko Nović's side as the 2025/26 Sudanese Premier League champions, securing Al Merriekh's 36th league title in the club's history.
The verdict brings an extraordinary end to the 2025/26 Sudanese Premier League season, with the title decided in the courtroom rather than on the pitch. While Al Hilal's campaign ended in disappointment after breaching the league's foreign-player regulations in the decisive derby, Al Merriekh capitalized on the successful appeal to reclaim domestic supremacy and lift their 36th league championship.
Jacques Roger NSHIMIYIMANA
