South Sudan moved to the brink of the next round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a commanding 4-0 victory over Djibouti in their preliminary first-leg encounter in Juba.
Despite being designated as the away side on paper, the Bright Stars controlled the match throughout, delivering a composed and clinical performance behind closed doors. The result leaves them in a strong position heading into the return leg.
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Kuol T. capped a measured first-half display by putting South Sudan ahead.
His goal reflected the team’s early dominance, as they dictated the tempo and limited Djibouti’s opportunities going forward.
After the interval, South Sudan raised their intensity and quickly took full control of the contest. Their attacking play became more direct and decisive, with Djibouti struggling to contain the pressure.
K. Majak played a central role in the second-half surge, influencing every goal after the restart. In the 49th minute, he provided a precise assist for J. Bangasi to double the lead, before setting up P. Maker again in the 66th minute to make it 3-0.
Majak then completed his standout display by scoring himself in the 81st minute, sealing a comprehensive victory and effectively ending any resistance from Djibouti.
The final whistle confirmed South Sudan’s dominance, with the four-goal margin placing them firmly in control of the tie.
Their performance combined organisation, efficiency and attacking sharpness, leaving little doubt about their superiority on the day.
For Djibouti, the defeat represents a significant setback. Facing a substantial deficit, they must now attempt to overturn the result in the second leg.
The gap in both physical presence and technical execution highlighted in Juba leaves them with a difficult challenge ahead.
South Sudan, meanwhile, will approach the return fixture with confidence, knowing they have taken a decisive step towards qualification for the next stage.
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