Leadership Hand-Over in Juba
In a ceremony at Juba Football House, outgoing South Sudan Football Federation president Gen. Agustino Maduot passed the presidential medallion to successor Amin Francis.
The event, attended by club delegates, national players and government sport officials, symbolised continuity after a competitive yet orderly election earlier this month.
Maduot’s Four-Year Legacy
Maduot highlighted the launch of the South Sudan Premier League, expansion of youth academies, and the first FIFA-sanctioned women’s league as signature achievements despite pandemic-era budget shocks.
“We have shown football can unite Wau, Malakal and Yei supporters under one flag,” he told journalists, pledging technical advice whenever requested by the new board.
Amin Francis Sets an Action Agenda
Moments after being sworn in, Francis insisted results must replace rhetoric, declaring, “The era of long speeches is over; the scoreboard will judge us.”
He outlined a 100-day roadmap focused on coach education, logistical support for county leagues and completion of the unfinished Juba stadium roof before the AFCON qualifiers.
Empowering Grassroots and Women
Francis pledged equal budget lines for women’s programmes and youth centres, noting that 42 percent of registered players are under 18 and hungry for structured competition.
He requested corporate sponsorship, arguing that private investment, not donor grants alone, will secure long-term equipment, physiotherapy and nutrition services for emerging talent.
Regional Vision Beyond Borders
With CECAFA officials observing the ceremony, the new president reiterated ambitions to host a sub-regional U-17 championship in 2025, positioning Juba as a peace-through-sport hub.
Analysts say sustained infrastructure upgrades and diplomatic engagement could help South Sudan secure its first senior AFCON appearance within two qualification cycles.
For now, the football public watches attentively, hopeful that the handshake between Maduot and Francis signals more than ceremony and ushers in measurable progress on the pitch.