South Sudan’s hopes of a successful AFCON qualification took a severe hit as they suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to South Africa in a dramatic home match at the Juba National Stadium.
The match, which seemed destined for a hard-fought draw, slipped away from the Bright Stars when they conceded a devastating last-minute goal during extra time.
The thrilling encounter saw both teams battling intensely from the outset. South Africa opened the scoring early, but South Sudan quickly responded, with their attacking play igniting the crowd.
The Bright Stars leveled the match twice, showing resilience and determination, much to the delight of the home supporters.
However, just as the fans began to settle for a well-earned draw, a late South African goal shattered South Sudan’s hopes in the dying moments of extra time.
The match ended with a 3-2 scoreline in favor of South Africa, leaving the hundreds of passionate fans at Juba National Stadium frustrated and disappointed.
For South Sudan, this defeat continues a challenging AFCON qualification campaign, following another recent loss to Congo, which has further dampened the spirits of the nation’s football supporters.
Head Coach Nicolas Dupuis had called on his players to approach the match with renewed energy and focus, knowing how crucial this game was for the team’s standing in the qualification campaign.
Before the game, he emphasized the importance of the match, labeling it a “significant test” of the team’s progress and resilience. Dupuis had also highlighted the need for his players to put in a top-tier performance, especially after their disappointing loss against Congo, which left fans and football analysts concerned about the team’s form.
“We needed to fight with everything we had,” Dupuis said after the match. “Our performance was commendable, but the result is a hard pill to swallow. We must regroup, learn from our mistakes, and move forward.”
The loss has left South Sudanese football fans heartbroken. Many had hoped the Bright Stars would bounce back after their struggles in recent matches.
The national team’s ability to keep pace with the more experienced South African side until the very end was commendable, but the late collapse has led to renewed calls for tactical adjustments and better game management.
“We were so close,” said one fan after the match. “The team showed heart, but we need to be more focused in the final minutes. Losing in this way is just painful.”
This latest defeat leaves South Sudan with a slim chance of qualifying for the 2024 AFCON tournament.
With just a few matches left, the Bright Stars will need to regroup quickly and secure victories in their remaining fixtures to restore faith and keep their qualification hopes alive.
Coach Dupuis and his team now face the challenge of rebuilding the team’s confidence and ensuring that the mistakes made in the South Africa match are not repeated in future games.
For South Sudan, every point matters as they aim to turn their fortunes around and finish the campaign on a high note.
Despite the disappointment, the passion and potential of the Bright Stars were evident throughout the match, giving fans hope that with the right adjustments, the team can still achieve great things in the future.
