Ali Alhaydar Hassan Hajelsedig Altoum (1 April 1949 – 12 February 2025), known as Ali Gagarin, was a Sudanese professional footballer who played as a forward for Al-Hilal Club. He participated in the Africa Cup of Nations 1970 and 1976. He earned his nickname of Ali Gagarin when he played professional football for Al-Hilal, one Sudan's biggest teams. His phenomenal rise in the sport was likened to that of the famous Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
Having retired from playing sport, he became an administrator who held posts such as vice-president at Al-Hilal and also in politics, as a director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ambassador. He died in Cairo on 12 February 2025, at the age of 75.الموت يغيّب أسطورة السودان ونجم النصر السابق
Career statistics Scores and results list Sudan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gagarin goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Ali GagarinNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 11 May 1969 Khartoum, Sudan 3–1 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification2 3 6 February 1970 Khartoum, Sudan 3–0 1970 Africa Cup of Nations4 28 September 1974 Damascus, Syria 6–0 1974 Kuneitra Cup5 6 7 30 September 1974 Damascus, Syria 3–1 1974 Kuneitra Cup8 23 March 1975 Khartoum, Sudan 1–0 1976 African Cup of Nations qualification9 6 April 1975 Nairobi, Kenya 2–0 1976 African Cup of Nations qualification10 11 30 May 1975 Khartoum, Sudan 1–0 Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's qualification12 6 July 1975 Tunis, Tunisia 2–3 1976 African Cup of Nations qualification13 15 August 1975 Khartoum, Sudan 2–1 1976 African Cup of Nations qualification14 1 March 1976 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia 2–2 1976 Africa Cup of Nations15 16 6 March 1976 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia 1–1 1976 Africa Cup of Nations17 28 March 1976 Lusaka, Zambia 2–2 Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's qualification18
Honours Al-Hilal Club Sudan Premier League: 1966, 1969, 1973
Al Nassr FC Saudi Federation Cup: 1976
Sudan African Cup of Nations: 1970
References
External links Player profile - Home of football statistics & history Haydar Hassan Al-Sidig the ambassador - Sudan Tribune