South Sudan national football team

South Sudan

Nickname(s)	Bright Stars[1]
Association	South Sudan Football Association (SSFA)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	CECAFA (East & Central Africa)
Head coach	Nicolas Dupuis
Captain	Juma Genaro
Most caps	Peter Chol (39)
Top scorer	James Moga Tito Okello (6)
Home stadium	Juba National Stadium
FIFA code	SSD
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	172 (24 October 2024)[2]
Highest	134 (November 2015)
Lowest	205 (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
Appearances	4 (first in 2012)
Best result	Quarter-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.

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]

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

Senegal  v  South Sudan

18 November 2026 World Cup qualification	Senegal	4–0	South Sudan	Diamniadio, Senegal
19:00 UTC±0	P. Sarr 1' Mané 5', 56' (pen.) L. Camara 45'	Report		Stadium: Diamniadio Olympic Stadium Referee: Retselisitsoe David Molise (Lesotho)

South Sudan  v  Mauritania

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)

São Tomé and Príncipe  v  South Sudan

22 March 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	São Tomé and Príncipe	1–1	South Sudan	Berkane, Morocco
19:00 UTC±0	Leal 50'	Report	Elly 78'	Stadium: Berkane Municipal Stadium Referee: Alhasan Bass (Gambia)

South Sudan  v  São Tomé and Príncipe

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.

Togo  v  South Sudan

5 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Togo	1–1	South Sudan	Lomé, Togo
16:00 UTC±0	Narey 61'	Report	Aholou 68' (o.g.)	Stadium: Stade de Kégué Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)

South Sudan  v  Sudan

11 June 2026 World Cup qualification	South Sudan	0–3	Sudan	Juba, South Sudan
14:00 UTC+2		Report	Khedr 45+3' Muzmel 51' Al Gharbal 78'	Stadium: Juba Stadium Referee: Ahmad Heeralall (Mauritius)

Congo  v  South Sudan

5 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	Congo	v	South Sudan	Brazzaville, Congo
17:00 UTC+1				Attendance: Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat

South Sudan  v  South Africa

10 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	South Sudan	v	South Africa	Juba, South Sudan
15:00 UTC+2				Attendance: Juba Stadium

Uganda  v  South Sudan

6 October 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	Uganda	v	South Sudan	Kampala, Uganda
				Attendance: Mandela National Stadium

South Sudan  v  Uganda

14 October 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	South Sudan	v	Uganda	Juba, South Sudan
				Attendance: Juba Stadium

South Sudan  v  Congo

10 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	South Sudan	v	Congo	Juba, South Sudan
				Attendance: Juba Stadium

South Africa  v  South Sudan

18 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

South Africa

v

South Sudan

South Africa

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

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	Al-Merrikh
	1GK	Majak Mawith	(1999-09-18) 18 September 1999 (age 25)	20	0	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	Al Merreikh
	2DF	Rashid Toha	(1997-10-09) 9 October 1997 (age 27)	21	1	Arua Hill
	2DF	Wani Ivan Adebo	(1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 (age 25)	20	0	Bul
	2DF	Loki Emmanuel	(2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 (age 23)	19	1	Bright Stars
	2DF	Atendele Geriga	(1995-05-05) 5 May 1995 (age 29)	16	0	Arua Hill
	2DF	Samuel Taban	(2002-10-29) 29 October 2002 (age 22)	13	0	Kator
	2DF	Paul Puk Kun Pal	(2000-02-12) 12 February 2000 (age 24)	3	0	Al Merreikh
	2DF	Rashid Okocha	(1993-12-10) 10 December 1993 (age 30)	2	0	NEC
	2DF	Benjamin Laku	(2006-06-27) 27 June 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Jamus
	3MF	Peter Chol	(1994-10-23) 23 October 1994 (age 30)	38	4	Kator
	3MF	Joseph Malish	(2002-07-27) 27 July 2002 (age 22)	16	0	Kator
	3MF	William Gama	(2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 21)	12	1	Onduparaka
	3MF	Gaddafi Wahab	(1995-12-11) 11 December 1995 (age 28)	6	0	NEC
	3MF	Charles Ouma	(1999-06-02) 2 June 1999 (age 25)	3	0	Kenya Police
	3MF	Malish Mandela	(1999-10-10) 10 October 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Atlabara
	3MF	Nelson Victor		0	0
	4FW	Tito Okello	(1996-01-07) 7 January 1996 (age 28)	25	6	PSM Makassar
	4FW	Valentino Yuel	(1994-10-12) 12 October 1994 (age 30)	20	3	Nasaf
	4FW	David Majak	(2000-10-10) 10 October 2000 (age 24)	10	0	Tusker
	4FW	Paul Jawa	(2004-07-15) 15 July 2004 (age 20)	7	0	Rainbow
	4FW	Alfred Leku	(1997-09-16) 16 September 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Kenya Police
	4FW	Madit Mayor		1	0	Atlabara
	4FW	Francis Onekalit	(1996-08-18) 18 August 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Villa

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	Kator	v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
GK	Ramadan John	(2000-03-17) 17 March 2000 (age 24)	14	0	Al-Malakia	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
DF	Peter Maker	(1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30)	33	0	Radnički S. Mitrovica	v.  South Africa; 10 September 2024
DF	Omot Sebit	(1998-10-09) 9 October 1998 (age 26)	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	Joseph Dhata	(2002-09-05) 5 September 2002 (age 22)	12	1	Express	v.  South Africa; 10 September 2024
MF	Nevello Yoseke	(1996-03-17) 17 March 1996 (age 28)	5	0	Monterey Bay	v.  South Africa; 10 September 2024
MF	Jackson Morgan	(1998-08-18) 18 August 1998 (age 26)	18	0	Bentleigh Greens	v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
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 29)	11	0	Leopards	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	Machop Chol	(1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 26)	6	0	San Antonio FC	v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
FW	Lazarus Peter Laku	(2008-05-29) 29 May 2008 (age 16)	0	0	Future Stars	v.  Sudan; 11 June 2024
FW	Ajak Riak	(2000-12-12) 12 December 2000 (age 23)	10	0	Sheriff Tiraspol	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024
FW	Martin Sawi	(1999-09-16) 16 September 1999 (age 25)	3	0	Pyeongchang United	v.  São Tomé and Príncipe; 26 March 2024

As of 15 October 2024^[20]

Players in bold are still active with South Sudan.

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
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 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
2027	To be determined									To be determined
2029
Total		0/34	0	0	0	0	0	0		32	8	1	23	26	62

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 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 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.

Team v t e	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	4	2	0	2	5	5	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
South Africa	2	0	0	2	2	6	−4	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	69	12	9	48	48	134	−86	17.39

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

• James Moga – forward for Sudan. Played for them in 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. Played 14 matches and scored six goals.
• Richard Justin Lado – Experienced defender in club football for Khartoum 3 and played for Sudan between 2008 and 2012.
• Athir Thomas – defender in Sudan before the country's partition.
• Roy Gulwak – Goalkeeper who represented Sudan in two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in 2009, conceding two goals.
• Khamis Martin – Played one international game for Sudan in 2010.

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]}

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Sudan national football team.

• Official South Sudan FA website
• South Sudan at CAF
• South Sudan at FIFA
• South Sudan – List of International Matches (in English)