South Sudan and South Africa are set to face off in a pivotal Group K match in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The game will take place on Tuesday, 10 September, at the Juba Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 CAT.
South Africa enters the fixture on the back of a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Uganda at Orlando Stadium last Friday.
Bafana Bafana dominated the first half, taking the lead through Lyle Foster, but a series of missed opportunities proved costly.
Uganda mounted a comeback in the second half, scoring two remarkable long-range goals that nearly handed South Africa a defeat.
However, a debut goal from substitute Thalente Mbatha deep into injury time salvaged a point for Hugo Broos’ side.
Reflecting on the match, Broos acknowledged that while the draw against Uganda was far from ideal, it gave the team a much-needed boost heading into the encounter with South Sudan.
“The point gives us a boost, and I think for the match against South Sudan we have to review some of the things and try to have a sharper team on the pitch than [against Uganda] because it is not easy,” Broos said.
“The game against Uganda was not simple, they were aggressive, they had players who were running, and sometimes we didn’t have an answer for that.
I am happy with a draw, and I am sure that against South Sudan, we will have a better South Africa than [against Uganda].”
One area likely to see a change for South Africa is the goalkeeper position.
With first-choice goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams absent, Veli Mothwa was handed the starting role against Uganda.
However, Mothwa’s performance came under scrutiny, particularly for Uganda’s second goal, leading to speculation that Broos may opt for either Sipho Chaine or Ricardo Goss in goal for the clash with South Sudan.
South Sudan, meanwhile, began their Group K campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Congo in Brazzaville.
A goal from Chandrel Massanga separated the two sides, leaving the Bright Stars searching for their first competitive victory in over 18 months.
South Sudan’s current six-match winless streak adds extra pressure to the upcoming contest, as they aim to turn their fortunes around and keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive.
This fixture marks the first-ever meeting between South Sudan and South Africa on the international stage.
South Sudan, who only began playing senior international football in 2012, will be looking to make a statement against a more experienced South African side.
For Bafana Bafana, securing three points in this match is critical as they seek to build momentum in their qualification campaign after a frustrating start.
With both teams eager for a victory, the contest at Juba Stadium promises to be a competitive and closely watched affair.
South Africa will hope to tighten up defensively and capitalize on their attacking prowess, while South Sudan will aim to leverage home advantage and break their winless run.