Events

In Sudan, playing football is de facto forbidden for women due to the Sharia-based social and legal system. In her feature film debut “Oufsaiyed Elkhortoum (Khartoum Offside)”, director Marwa Zein accompanies a group of confident young women with a passion for soccer in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. Their fight for official recognition as the Sudanese women's national team is fearless, courageous and bizarrely funny. Through the intimate portrait of these women over several years, we follow their moments of hope and disappointment.

Along the way, they talk about issues such as the division of the country into two states and discrimination against people from South Sudan. Although the national football association FIFA receives funds for the women's team, this team continues to be marginalized. But there is a new glimmer of hope as the elections within the association could mean a real change in the whole system.

In the framework of Culturescapes Sahara 2025.