Bright Stars out to tame Lions of Teranga

South Sudan will battle it out with Senegal in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification (Group B) match scheduled to be played at the Juba Stadium on Friday.

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Bright Stars are winless in their last five matches across all competitions as they drew 0-0 with Mauritania in a Group B match on September 9 and it was the second draw in their last three games.

South Sudan are occupying the sixth spot in the Group B standings, having collected four points from eight games and the East African side have already been eliminated coming into this game.

Meanwhile, Senegal are undefeated in their last three matches across all competitions, having claimed a 3-2 win over DR Congo in a Group B clash on September 9 and it was their third successive victory.

The Lions of Teranga find themselves placed at the top of the Group B standings, having accumulated 18 points from eight games and the West African side will qualify if they collect four points from their last two games.

TEAM NEWS

South Sudan have been boosted by the arrival of their foreign-based stars Tito Okello (Abelashhar, Libya) and Atendele Mawa (NEC, Uganda), who finally joined the team's camp on Wednesday.

Senegal, on the other hand, have had to make changes in their squad as Habib Diallo joined the team's camp in South Sudan on Monday as he replaced Boulaye Dia, who is injured.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw

"The players deserve praise, but nothing is done yet because there are still two matches left," Thiaw told reporters after the win over DR Congo.

"We have two more finals to play and we're going to give it everything to reach the next World Cup."

HEAD-TO-HEAD

South Sudan and Senegal have met once across all competitions following their maiden meeting in November 2023.

The 2026 World Cup qualifier ended in a 4-0 win in favour of the Lions of Teranga at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium in Senegal.