By Kei Emmanuel Duku
The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has confirmed that some foreign-based players have begun arriving in Juba to join the national team training camp ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Michael Daniel Morgan, chairman of the South Sudan National Team Committee, noted that Peter Maker, recently signed by AFC Leopard in Kenya and the national team captain alongside Alfred Leku, and Peter America, arrived in Juba yesterday and joined their teammates.
Rashid Toha is expected to arrive over the weekend.
Toha is currently dealing with family matters and has been granted a short break by the SSFA before joining the team on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Anyama Richard and winger Loki Emmanuel are also expected to arrive in Juba today.
“FIFA’s international break begins on September 2nd, so players like Data Joseph, Gafida Wahihab, Wahab Gaddafi, and Geriga Atendele, who have matches today, will arrive in Juba on Sunday morning,” said Margon.
The South Sudan national team, the Bright Stars, will face Congo Brazzaville and South Africa in a double-header of AFCON qualifiers to be held in Morocco.
All national team players are expected to be in the residential camp by Saturday, August 31st, before departing for Congo Brazzaville on September 1st.
Morgan added that other foreign-based players, such as Ajak Riak, Jackson Margon Obedi, Valentino Yuel, and others, will join the national team in Congo Brazzaville on September 4th.
“These players will travel directly from their respective countries, where they are pursuing their professional careers, to Congo,” Margon explained. “Due to the limited time available, it’s more efficient for them to join the team directly in Congo rather than making a stop in Juba.”
The Bright Stars are grouped with Uganda, Congo Brazzaville, and South Africa in Group K of the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers.
They will play their first match on September 5th before returning to Juba to host South Africa at Juba Stadium a week later.