Congolese tactician Christian Nsengi-Biembe appointed South Sudan head coach

Congolese-Belgian coach Christian Nsengi-Biembe has been officially appointed as the new head coach of the South Sudan national team, the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) has confirmed.

The 63-year-old tactician has signed a one-year contract with the Bright Stars, with the primary objective of guiding the team through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Nsengi-Biembe, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence, takes charge at a crucial stage as South Sudan prepares for the continental qualifying campaign.

The Bright Stars have been drawn in Group B alongside Egypt, Angola and Malawi, with the qualifiers scheduled to begin in September 2026.

The experienced coach was selected by the SSFF for his knowledge of African football and his reputation for developing young players.

He has also been following South Sudan’s domestic league and players based abroad as he prepares to build his squad.

Under the terms of his appointment, Nsengi-Biembe will have responsibilities beyond the senior national team.

He will also serve as a technical consultant for South Sudan’s U20 and U23 men’s teams and assist in the development of local coaches through coaching-licence programmes.

The former coach has also been tasked with helping establish a clear playing identity for the national team.

Nsengi-Biembe is expected to bring tactical discipline and a strong focus on youth development to the Bright Stars, with the coach favouring a dynamic 4-3-3 system.

His immediate focus will be the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, where South Sudan face a challenging group featuring three established African football nations.

The SSFF has made qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations a major target of the new coaching project.

Nsengi-Biembe has expressed his readiness to take on the challenge, highlighting the talent available within South Sudan and promising to work with both the senior and youth national teams.

The appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Bright Stars as they seek to make their mark on the continental stage.