South Sudan national football team

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.

South Sudan
Shirt badge/Association crest
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 (36)
Top scorerJames Moga (6)
Home stadiumJuba National Stadium
FIFA codeSSD
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 167 Steady (20 June 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)

History

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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

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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

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8 September 2023 AFCON qualification Mali   4–0   South Sudan Bamako, Mali
19:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
Referee: Mehrez Melki (Tunisia)
12 September Friendly Kenya   0–1   South Sudan Nairobi, Kenya
Report
Stadium: Moi International Sports Centre
Referee: Abdoul Karim Twagirumukiza (Rwanda)
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

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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)

Coaches

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Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

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Current squad

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The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Togo and Egypt on 5 and 11 June 2024.[19]

Caps and goals correct as of 5 June 2024, after the match against Togo.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Juma Genaro (1986-02-28) 28 February 1986 (age 38) 31 0   Al-Merrikh
1GK Anyama Joseph 0 0   Simba
1GK Godwill Yugusuk (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24) 0 0   Kator

2DF Peter Maker (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30) 30 0   Radnički S. Mitrovica
2DF Rashid Toha (1997-10-09) 9 October 1997 (age 26) 20 1   Arua Hill
2DF Wani Ivan Adebo (1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 (age 25) 19 0   Bul
2DF Loki Emmanuel (2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 (age 22) 16 1   Bright Stars
2DF Atendele Geriga (1995-05-05) 5 May 1995 (age 29) 13 0   Arua Hill
2DF Samuel Taban (2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 (age 21) 10 0   Kator

3MF Peter Chol (1994-10-23) 23 October 1994 (age 29) 35 4   Kator
3MF Jackson Morgan (1998-08-18) 18 August 1998 (age 25) 15 0   Bentleigh Greens
3MF Joseph Malish (2002-07-27) 27 July 2002 (age 21) 13 0   Kator
3MF Joseph Dhata (2002-09-05) 5 September 2002 (age 21) 10 1   Express
3MF Gaddafi Wahab (1999-11-11) 11 November 1999 (age 24) 3 0   NEC
3MF Charles Ouma (1999-06-02) 2 June 1999 (age 25) 2 0   Kenya Police

4FW Tito Okello (1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 (age 28) 22 5   Kenya Police
4FW Valentino Yuel (1994-10-12) 12 October 1994 (age 29) 17 2   Western Sydney Wanderers
4FW Machop Chol (1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 25) 5 0   San Antonio FC
4FW Paul America (2004-07-15) 15 July 2004 (age 19) 3 0   Rainbow
4FW Lazarus Peter Laku (2008-05-29) 29 May 2008 (age 16) 0 0   Future Stars

Recent call ups

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Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Majak Mawith (1999-09-18) 18 September 1999 (age 24) 17 0   Port Melbourne v.   Togo; 5 June 2024PRE
GK Ramadan John (2000-03-17) 17 March 2000 (age 24) 14 0   Al-Malakia v.   São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024

DF Omot Sebit (1998-10-09) 9 October 1998 (age 25) 12 0   Alamal Atbara v.   São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
DF Rehan Angier (2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22) 8 0   Munuki v.   Mauritania; 21 November 2023

MF Manyumow Achol (2000-12-10) 10 December 2000 (age 23) 12 0   Auda v.   Togo; 5 June 2024PRE
MF Asad Musa (1995-08-06) 6 August 1995 (age 28) 11 0   Leopards v.   São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
MF William Gama (2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 21) 10 1   Onduparaka v.   São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
MF Kenyi Wani (2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 20) 6 0   Al-Malakia v.   São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024

FW Ajak Riak (2000-12-12) 12 December 2000 (age 23) 8 0   Sheriff Tiraspol v.   São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
FW Martin Sawi (1999-09-16) 16 September 1999 (age 24) 3 0   Pyeongchang United v.   São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024

Player records

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As of 11 June 2024[20]
Players in bold are still active with South Sudan.

Most appearances

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Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Peter Chol 36 4 2015–present
2 Juma Genaro 31 0 2012–present
Peter Maker 31 0 2018–present
4 Dominic Abui Pretino 30 4 2013–2021
5 Leon Uso Khamis 29 3 2012–2022
6 Tito Okello 23 5 2020–present
7 Athir Thomas[a] 21 1 2012–2019
Rashid Toha 21 1 2021–present
9 Zachariah Adwin 20 0 2012–2017
David Dada 20 0 2014–2018

Top goalscorers

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James Moga is South Sudan's top scorer with 6 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 James Moga[b] 6 18 0.33 2012–2017
2 Tito Okello 5 23 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 36 0.11 2015–present
6 Sebit Bruno 3 10 0.3 2015–2016
Atak Lual 3 13 0.23 2014–2018
Leon Uso Khamis 3 29 0.1 2012–2022
9 Richard Justin Lado[c] 2 8 0.25 2012–2017
Wurube Robert Lopidia 2 10 0.2 2016–2018
Valentino Yuel 2 18 0.11 2022–present

Competitive record

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FIFA World Cup

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FIFA World Cup Qualification
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
  2014 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
  2018 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 5
  2022 2 0 1 1 1 2
      2026 To be determined 4 0 2 2 1 8
      2030 To be determined
  2034
Total 0/2 8 0 4 4 3 15

Africa Cup of Nations

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Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
  1957 Part of   Sudan Part of   Sudan
  1959
  1962
  1963
  1965
  1968
  1970
  1974
  1976
  1978
  1980
  1982
  1984
  1986
  1988
  1990
  1992
  1994
  1996
  1998
    2000
  2002
  2004
  2006
  2008
  2010
    2012 Did not enter Did not enter
  2013
  2015 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 0 5
  2017 6 1 0 5 3 15
  2019 8 1 0 7 8 20
  2021 8 3 0 5 5 7
  2023 8 3 0 5 10 15
  2025 To be determined To be determined
      2027
Total 0/36 32 8 1 23 26 62

African Nations Championship

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African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
  2009 Part of   Sudan
  2011
  2014 Did not qualify
  2016
  2018
  2020
  2022
Total 0/7

CECAFA Cup

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

FIFA Arab Cup

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FIFA Arab Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
  1963 to 20091 Part of   Sudan Part of   Sudan
  2012 Not invited Not invited
  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

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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 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 50.00
  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
  Sudan 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0.00
  Uganda 5 1 1 3 4 12 −8 20.00
  Uzbekistan 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0.00
  Zanzibar 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0.00
Total 62 11 9 42 41 117 −76 17.74
Source: Results

Dual-internationals

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

Historical kits

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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

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Notes

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  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

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  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 World Ranking". FIFA. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  3. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 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 June 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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