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South Sudan national football team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see South Sudan women's national football team.
Not to be confused with Sudan national football team.

South Sudan
Nickname(s)Bright Stars[1]
AssociationSouth Sudan Football Association (SSFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCECAFA (East & Central Africa)
Head coachNicolas Dupuis
CaptainPeter Maker
Most capsPeter Chol (39)
Top scorerJames Moga
Tito Okello (6)
Home stadiumJuba National Stadium
FIFA codeSSD
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 172 Steady (24 October 2024)[2]
Highest134 (November 2015)
Lowest205 (September 2013)
First international
 South Sudan 2–2 Uganda 
(Juba, South Sudan; 10 July 2012)
Biggest win
 South Sudan 6–0 Djibouti 
(Juba, South Sudan; 28 March 2017)
Biggest defeat
 Mozambique 5–0 South Sudan 
(Maputo, Mozambique; 18 May 2014)
CECAFA Cup
Appearances4 (first in 2012)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2015)

The South Sudan national football team represents South Sudan in international football and is controlled by the South Sudan Football Association, the governing body for football in South Sudan.

History

[edit]

Zoran Đorđević was appointed on 25 May 2011 to oversee the national team.[4] For their inaugural year the team was featured in a Storyville episode called Soccer Coach Zoran and his African Tigers. The national team's first international fixture was due to be against the Kenya national team on 10 July 2011 as part of the country's independence celebrations.[5][6] However, in the event the opposition was provided by Tusker of the Kenyan Premier League,[7] alongside the first international fixture of the national basketball team. The match was played at the Juba Stadium. South Sudan scored within ten minutes, but they later conceded three goals in a 3–1 defeat.[8] South Sudan was officially admitted as a CAF member on 10 February 2012, at the 34th CAF Ordinary General Assembly hosted in Libreville, Gabon.[9] South Sudan was admitted as a FIFA member on 25 May 2012 at the second session of the 62nd FIFA Congress hosted in Budapest, Hungary.[10][11]

On 10 July 2012, South Sudan competed in its first full international match, a friendly against Uganda in Juba.[12] The match ended in a 2–2 draw, with James Moga and Richard Justin Lado scoring for South Sudan. This match resulted in South Sudan entering the FIFA rankings at the start of August in 199th place.[12]

The South Sudanese took part in their first ever international football tournament when they took part in the 2012 CECAFA Cup in Uganda.[13][14] They were drawn in Group A alongside Ethiopia, Kenya, and hosts Uganda.[15] The national team played their first match against Ethiopia, losing 1–0 through a Yonathan Kebede goal. In their next match, they lost 2–0 against Kenya. Their final match saw them suffer a 4–0 loss to Uganda.[citation needed]

South Sudan entered its first major international tournament in 2014, taking part in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. As one of the four lowest ranked national teams in Africa, it entered in the preliminary stage and was scheduled to play against Eritrea, who withdrew, thus qualifying South Sudan for the first qualifying round.[16][17] There, they played Mozambique over two legs, losing 5–0 at the Estádio do Zimpeto in Maputo, but hosting a goalless draw in the second leg which was held at the Khartoum Stadium in Sudan due to the South Sudanese Civil War.[citation needed]

On 5 September 2015, South Sudan achieved their first official victory, a 1–0 home win against Equatorial Guinea in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. One month later South Sudan played their first ever match in FIFA World Cup Qualification, a 1–1 draw at home to Mauritania. South Sudan would lose both return matches 4–0.[citation needed]

During 2019 AFCON qualifying the Bright Stars achieved their record win, defeating Djibouti 6–0 in Juba, however they lost all seven of their other matches meaning they remained among the lowest ranked teams in Africa.[citation needed]

In October 2019, in the 2021 AFCON preliminary round, South Sudan won an away game for the first time, beating Seychelles 1–0 in Victoria to secure a 3–1 aggregate victory. This sees the Bright Stars advance to the qualifying group stage for the third consecutive edition.[citation needed]

South Sudan were invited by FIFA to take part in 2021 FIFA Arab Cup as the only non-Arab League nation. However, they forfeited the qualifiers after several players tested positive on COVID-19.[18]

Results and fixtures

[edit]
Main article: South Sudan national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

[edit]
18 November 2026 World Cup qualification Senegal  4–0  South Sudan Diamniadio, Senegal
19:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Diamniadio Olympic Stadium
Referee: Retselisitsoe David Molise (Lesotho)
21 November 2026 World Cup qualification South Sudan  0–0  Mauritania Diamniadio, Senegal
16:00 UTC±0 Report Stadium: Diamniadio Olympic Stadium
Referee: Patrice Milazare (Mauritius)

2024

[edit]
22 March 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification São Tomé and Príncipe  1–1  South Sudan Berkane, Morocco
19:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Berkane Municipal Stadium
Referee: Alhasan Bass (Gambia)
26 March 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification South Sudan  0–0
(1–1 agg.)		  São Tomé and Príncipe Berkane, Morocco
17:00 UTC±0 Report Stadium: Berkane Municipal Stadium
Referee: Keren Yocette (Seychelles)
Note: 1–1 on aggregate; South Sudan won on away goals.
5 June 2026 World Cup qualification Togo  1–1  South Sudan Lomé, Togo
16:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Stade de Kégué
Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification South Sudan  0–3  Sudan Juba, South Sudan
14:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Juba Stadium
Referee: Ahmad Heeralall (Mauritius)
5 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Congo  v  South Sudan Brazzaville, Congo
17:00 UTC+1 Attendance: Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat
10 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification South Sudan  v  South Africa Juba, South Sudan
15:00 UTC+2 Attendance: Juba Stadium
6 October 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Uganda  v  South Sudan Kampala, Uganda
Attendance: Mandela National Stadium
14 October 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification South Sudan  v  Uganda Juba, South Sudan
Attendance: Juba Stadium
10 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification South Sudan  v  Congo Juba, South Sudan
Attendance: Juba Stadium
18 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification South Africa  v  South Sudan South Africa

Coaches

[edit]
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

[edit]

Current squad

[edit]

The following players were called up for the 2025 AFCON qualification matches against Uganda on 11 and 14 October 2024.[19]

Caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2024, after the match against Uganda.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Juma Genaro (1986-02-28) 28 February 1986 (age 38) 32 0 Sudan Al-Merrikh
1GK Majak Mawith (1999-09-18) 18 September 1999 (age 25) 20 0 Australia Port Melbourne
1GK Nicolas Madeng (1998-01-07) 7 January 1998 (age 26) 0 0
2DF Athir Thomas (1987-02-14) 14 February 1987 (age 37) 23 1 South Sudan Al Merreikh
2DF Rashid Toha (1997-10-09) 9 October 1997 (age 27) 21 1 Uganda Arua Hill
2DF Wani Ivan Adebo (1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 (age 25) 20 0 Uganda Bul
2DF Loki Emmanuel (2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 (age 22) 19 1 Uganda Bright Stars
2DF Atendele Geriga (1995-05-05) 5 May 1995 (age 29) 16 0 Uganda Arua Hill
2DF Samuel Taban (2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 (age 22) 13 0 South Sudan Kator
2DF Paul Puk Kun Pal (2000-02-12) 12 February 2000 (age 24) 3 0 South Sudan Al Merreikh
2DF Rashid Okocha (1993-12-10) 10 December 1993 (age 30) 2 0 Uganda NEC
2DF Benjamin Laku (2006-06-27) 27 June 2006 (age 18) 1 0 South Sudan Jamus
3MF Peter Chol (1994-10-23) 23 October 1994 (age 30) 38 4 South Sudan Kator
3MF Joseph Malish (2002-07-27) 27 July 2002 (age 22) 16 0 South Sudan Kator
3MF William Gama (2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 21) 12 1 Uganda Onduparaka
3MF Gaddafi Wahab (1995-12-11) 11 December 1995 (age 28) 6 0 Uganda NEC
3MF Charles Ouma (1999-06-02) 2 June 1999 (age 25) 3 0 Kenya Kenya Police
3MF Malish Mandela (1999-10-10) 10 October 1999 (age 25) 0 0 South Sudan Atlabara
3MF Nelson Victor 0 0
4FW Tito Okello (1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 (age 28) 25 6 Indonesia PSM Makassar
4FW Valentino Yuel (1994-10-12) 12 October 1994 (age 30) 20 3 Uzbekistan Nasaf
4FW David Majak (2000-10-10) 10 October 2000 (age 24) 10 0 Kenya Tusker
4FW Paul Jawa (2004-07-15) 15 July 2004 (age 20) 7 0 South Sudan Rainbow
4FW Alfred Leku (1997-09-16) 16 September 1997 (age 27) 2 0 Kenya Kenya Police
4FW Madit Mayor 1 0 South Sudan Atlabara
4FW Francis Onekalit (1996-08-18) 18 August 1996 (age 28) 0 0 Uganda Villa

Recent call ups

[edit]
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Godwill Yugusuk (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24) 0 0 South Sudan Kator v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
GK Ramadan John (2000-03-17) 17 March 2000 (age 24) 14 0 South Sudan Al-Malakia v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
DF Peter Maker (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30) 33 0 Serbia Radnički S. Mitrovica v.  South Africa; 10 September 2024
DF Omot Sebit (1998-10-09) 9 October 1998 (age 26) 12 0 Sudan Alamal Atbara v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
DF Rehan Angier (2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22) 8 0 South Sudan Munuki v.  Mauritania; 21 November 2023
MF Joseph Dhata (2002-09-05) 5 September 2002 (age 22) 12 1 Uganda Express v.  South Africa; 10 September 2024
MF Nevello Yoseke (1996-03-17) 17 March 1996 (age 28) 5 0 United States Monterey Bay v.  South Africa; 10 September 2024
MF Jackson Morgan (1998-08-18) 18 August 1998 (age 26) 18 0 Australia Bentleigh Greens v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
MF Manyumow Achol (2000-12-10) 10 December 2000 (age 23) 12 0 Latvia Auda v.  Togo; 5 June 2024PRE
MF Asad Musa (1995-08-06) 6 August 1995 (age 29) 11 0 Kenya Leopards v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
MF Kenyi Wani (2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 20) 6 0 South Sudan Al-Malakia v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
FW Machop Chol (1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 25) 6 0 United States San Antonio FC v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
FW Lazarus Peter Laku (2008-05-29) 29 May 2008 (age 16) 0 0 South Sudan Future Stars v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
FW Ajak Riak (2000-12-12) 12 December 2000 (age 23) 10 0 Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
FW Martin Sawi (1999-09-16) 16 September 1999 (age 25) 3 0 South Korea Pyeongchang United v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024

Player records

[edit]
As of 15 October 2024[20]
Players in bold are still active with South Sudan.

Most appearances

[edit]
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Peter Chol 39 4 2015–present
2 Juma Genaro 33 0 2012–present
Peter Maker 33 0 2018–present
4 Dominic Abui Pretino 30 4 2013–2021
5 Leon Uso Khamis 29 3 2012–2022
6 Tito Okello 25 6 2020–present
7 Athir Thomas[a] 24 1 2012–present
8 Rashid Toha 21 1 2021–present
9 Zachariah Adwin 20 0 2012–2017
David Dada 20 0 2014–2018
Majak Mawith 20 0 2019–present

Top goalscorers

[edit]
James Moga is South Sudan's joint top scorer with 6 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 James Moga[b] 6 18 0.33 2012–2017
Tito Okello 6 25 0.22 2020–present
3 Joseph Kuch Nyuar 4 8 0.5 2017–2019
Dominic Abui Pretino 4 30 0.13 2013–2021
Peter Chol 4 39 0.1 2015–present
6 Sebit Bruno 3 10 0.3 2015–2016
Atak Lual 3 13 0.23 2014–2018
Valentino Yuel 3 20 0.15 2022–present
Leon Uso Khamis 3 29 0.1 2012–2022
10 Richard Justin Lado[c] 2 8 0.25 2012–2017
Wurube Robert Lopidia 2 10 0.2 2016–2018

Competitive record

[edit]

FIFA World Cup

[edit]
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1938 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
1950 to 2010 Part of  Sudan Part of  Sudan
Brazil 2014 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
Russia 2018 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 5
Qatar 2022 2 0 1 1 1 2
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 4 0 2 2 1 8
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/2 8 0 4 4 3 15

Africa Cup of Nations

[edit]
Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Sudan 1957 Part of  Sudan Part of  Sudan
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970
Egypt 1974
Ethiopia 1976
Ghana 1978
Nigeria 1980
Libya 1982
Ivory Coast 1984
Egypt 1986
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992
Tunisia 1994
South Africa 1996
Burkina Faso 1998
Ghana Nigeria 2000
Mali 2002
Tunisia 2004
Egypt 2006
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012 Did not enter Did not enter
South Africa 2013
Equatorial Guinea 2015 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 0 5
Gabon 2017 6 1 0 5 3 15
Egypt 2019 8 1 0 7 8 20
Cameroon 2021 8 3 0 5 5 7
Ivory Coast 2023 8 3 0 5 10 15
Morocco 2025 To be determined To be determined
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027
2029
Total – 0/34 – – – – – – 32 8 1 23 26 62

African Nations Championship

[edit]
African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Ivory Coast 2009 Part of  Sudan
Sudan 2011
South Africa 2014 Did not qualify
Rwanda 2016
Morocco 2018
Cameroon 2020
Algeria 2022
Total – 0/7 – – – – – –

CECAFA Cup

[edit]
CECAFA Cup record
Appearances: 4
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Uganda 1973 to Tanzania 2010 Part of  Sudan
Tanzania 2011 Did not enter
Uganda 2012 Group stage 11th 3 0 0 3 0 7
Kenya 2013 Group stage 10th 3 0 0 3 2 7
Ethiopia 2015 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 2 0 4 0
Kenya 2017 Group stage 9th 3 0 1 2 1 8
Uganda 2019 Did not enter
Total Quarter-finals 4/40 13 2 3 8 7 22

FIFA Arab Cup

[edit]
FIFA Arab Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Lebanon 1963 to 20091 Part of  Sudan Part of  Sudan
Saudi Arabia 2012 Not invited Not invited
Qatar 2021 Did not qualify 0[note 1] 0 0 1 0 3
Total 0/9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3

^1 The 2009 edition was cancelled during qualification.

Head-to-head record

[edit]
Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD WPCT
 Benin 2 0 0 2 2 6 −4 0.00
 Botswana 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0.00
 Burkina Faso 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 0.00
 Burundi 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 0.00
 Congo 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1 33.33
 Djibouti 5 4 0 1 13 4 +9 80.00
 Egypt 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0.00
 Equatorial Guinea 4 1 1 2 2 6 −4 25.00
 Ethiopia 3 0 0 3 0 6 −6 0.00
 Gabon 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0.00
 Gambia 3 0 0 3 3 6 −3 0.00
 Jordan 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4 0.00
 Kenya 5 1 0 4 2 8 −6 20.00
 Mali 6 0 0 6 1 18 −17 0.00
 Malawi 3 1 0 2 2 2 0 33.33
 Mauritania 3 0 2 1 1 5 −4 0.00
 Mozambique 2 0 1 1 0 5 −5 0.00
 Senegal 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 0.00
 Seychelles 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 100.00
 Sierra Leone 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0.00
 South Africa 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1 0.00
 Sudan 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0.00
 Uganda 8 1 1 6 6 20 −14 12.50
 Uzbekistan 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0.00
 Zanzibar 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0.00
Total 67 11 9 47 45 129 −84 16.42
Source: Results

Dual-internationals

[edit]

The following South Sudanese international footballers have also played for Sudan national football team before the country's independence:

Historical kits

[edit]
2011 Home
2011 Home
2012 Home
2012 Home
2012 Away
2013 Home
2014 Home
2014 Away
2014 Third
2015 Home
2015 Away
2015 Third
2017 Home
2017 Away
2017 Third
2020 Home
2020 Away
2021 Home
2021 Away
2021 Home
2021 Away
2022 Home
2022 Away
2023 Home
2023 Away

Sources:[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]

Notes & references

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The qualification match against Jordan was awarded to her due to a forfeit from South Sudan as multiple players and staff had positive COVID-19 test results upon their arrival in the qualifications hosts Qatar.
  1. ^ Athir Thomas also appeared in four games for Sudan
  2. ^ James Moga also won 18 caps and scored 5 goals for Sudan
  3. ^ Richard Lado also appeared in over 70 matches for Sudan, scoring 9 goals

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "BBC Storyville 2014 Soccer Coach Zoran and his African Tigers". YouTube. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  3. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  4. ^ Jacobs, Sean (25 May 2011). "Zoran and his African Tigers". Africas Country. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. ^ "The Birth of the Republic of South Sudan". Archived from the original (DOC) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  6. ^ Martell, Peter (6 July 2011). "World's Newest Nation Set to Step Into Sporting Arena". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  7. ^ Rice, Xan (10 July 2011). "South Sudan marks statehood with football match". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Independent South Sudan play first football match". Kickoff.com. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  9. ^ South Sudan admitted as a member of CAF Archived 31 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine, SuperSport.com, Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  10. ^ "FIFA Congress fully backs reform process, appoints first woman to Executive; welcomes South Sudan as 209th FIFA member". FIFA Congress. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  11. ^ Mensah, Kent (27 May 2012). "South Sudan become Fifa's 209th member". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  12. ^ a b "South Sudan enter FIFA rankings". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  13. ^ South Sudan set for international debuts at Cecafa cups Archived 11 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2012
  14. ^ World newest state set for CECAFA début Archived 5 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Futaa.com. Retrieved 12 November 2012
  15. ^ Ethiopia get tough draw for 2012 Cecafa Challenge Cup Archived 28 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2012
  16. ^ "Eritrea withdraws from Nations Cup Qualification". Reuters.com. 30 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Eritrea withdraws from Can 2015". Cafonline.com. 30 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  18. ^ "FIFA Arab Cup 2021 qualification match between Jordan and South Sudan forfeited". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 21 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Final Squad". Twitter. South Sudan Football Association. 4 October 2024.
  20. ^ "South Sudan". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  21. ^ "FOOTBALL IN SOUTH SUDAN".
  22. ^ "2011".
  23. ^ "2011".
  24. ^ "2012".
  25. ^ "2012".
  26. ^ "2012".
  27. ^ "2013".
  28. ^ "2014".
  29. ^ "2015".
  30. ^ "2015".
  31. ^ "2017".
  32. ^ "2017".
  33. ^ "2017".
  34. ^ "2020".
  35. ^ "2020".
  36. ^ "2021".
  37. ^ "2021".
  38. ^ "2021".
  39. ^ "2022".
  40. ^ "2023".
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