ALIIR Aliir's hopes of becoming second player of Sudanese descent to debut in the AFL remain alive after he recently re-signed with the Sydney Swans for 2016.

Aliir was the first player of Sudanese extraction to be drafted onto an AFL senior list when the Swans took him with pick No.44 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

His initial two-year contract with the Swans expired at the end of this season, but AFL.com.au understands he has signed a new one-year deal.

The East Fremantle product has yet to play a senior game in two seasons with the Swans, but has made steady improvement as a key defender with the club's reserves team in the NEAFL.

In 16 NEAFL games this year, Aliir, 193cm and 94kg, was named in the Swans' best players five times.

North Melbourne's Majak Daw became the first Sudanese-born player to play an AFL game, when he debuted for the Roos in round four, 2013, against the Brisbane Lions.

Daw was recruited by North in the 2010 rookie draft and elevated onto the club's senior list at the end of 2012.