2026 Qualifier Showdown in Juba
Senegal underlined its World Cup ambitions with a resounding 5-0 away victory over South Sudan in Juba on Friday evening, a result that tightened the Lions of Teranga’s grip on Group B and showcased the depth of coach Aliou Cissé’s attacking resources.
South Sudan, still in the developmental phase of its football project, resisted bravely for 45 minutes before conceding four goals after the interval. The contrasting trajectories of the two sides offered a vivid snapshot of the competitive gap within Africa’s expanding qualification landscape.
Senegal’s Early Control in Juba
From the opening whistle at Juba International Stadium, the Lions of Teranga monopolised possession, calmly circling the ball while probing for gaps. South Sudan’s compact back line, buoyed by a loud home crowd, initially absorbed the pressure yet struggled to advance beyond midfield.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in minute 29, when Ismaila Sarr drifted inside and clipped Iliman Ndiaye’s square pass into the roof of the net. It was the winger’s 17th international strike and, for a time, the solitary difference between the sides.
Second-Half Goals Break Resistance
Coach Aliou Cissé’s half-time message proved decisive. Just 60 seconds after the restart, Sadio Mané pounced on a loose clearance and buried his 46th national goal, dampening the stadium’s energy and signalling an irreversible shift in momentum.
Five minutes later, Sarr completed his brace with a low drive that sneaked inside the near post. Nicolas Jackson converted a penalty on 59 minutes before substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a fifth on 76, turning a respectable contest into a landslide.
Group B Standings Tighten
The emphatic scoreline keeps Senegal atop Group B with an unbeaten record. A win against Mauritania on Tuesday would mathematically lock a ticket to the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, affirming the squad’s status as continental standard-bearers.
Head coach Cissé remained measured, saying the group ‘hasn’t been won yet, but the players showed character,’ as quoted by national broadcaster RTS. Analysts note that goal difference could prove decisive if results narrow later in the campaign.
Bright Stars Seek Redemption
For South Sudan, the fifth defeat in six outings leaves the Bright Stars anchored to sixth place. Interim coach Nicholas Hazana praised his team’s first-half discipline yet admitted that ‘fatigue and concentration levels dropped after the break,’ a recurring theme this cycle.
Monday’s home fixture against Togo offers a final chance to secure points and, perhaps more importantly, to blood young talents earmarked for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Local supporters, who packed the stands again on Friday, are expected to turn out in similar numbers.