South Sudan make wholesale changes for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
South Sudan have made wholesale adjustments to their squad for this month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers with 22 changes introduced for their Group B clashes against DR Congo and Sudan.
Coach Nicolas Dupuis has dropped 16 players from the squad that completed the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last November with a 3-2 home win over Congo, followed by a 3-0 defeat in South Africa.
The coach has selected significantly more locally-based players, saying more talent had come to the fore since the establishment of the South Sudan Premier League, which has enhanced the development of homegrown players.
Dupuis added that a solid foundation of locally based players is crucial for building a stronger team.
South Sudan have drawn two and lost two of their opening four qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in North America and have two difficult away games this month, in Kinshasa on March 21 and the meeting neighbours Sudan in Benghazi, Libya four days later.
From the starting line-up beaten in Cape Town by South Africa in November, Benjamin Laku and Ebon Malish, who scored twice against Congo the same month, drop out.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Isaac Bida (Lion Hunters), Majak Mawith (Jamus), Godwill Yugusak (Kator)
Defenders: Thomas Atir (Al Merreikh Juba), Daniel Bichiok (Nairobi United, Kenya) Isaac Friday (Lion Hunters), Rashid Okocha (National Enterprise Corporation, Uganda), Paul Pal (Al Merreikh Juba), Atiki Rahuman (Calvery), Samuel Taban, Ivan Wani (both Jamus)
Midfielders: Peter Chan (Olympic), Samuel Dok (Holy Family), William Gama (Malakia), John Juluk (Holy Family), Joseph Malish Manase (Jamus), Victor Nelson (Al Merreikh Juba), Mario Taban (Jamus)
Forwards: Nhiak Agany (Holy Family), Paul America (Fleury 91, France), Pap Chol (Kator), Geng Dut (Wajuma), Yuel Kuach (Al Morooj, Libya), Peter Lazarus (Future Stars Academy), Tito Luk Ciir (Jamus), Angufi Mudasiri (Koryom), Fodul Nasardin (Al Hilal), Tito Okella (Abdelashhar, Libya), Yohanna Paulino (Jamus), David Sebit (Kator), Abraham Thuo (Holy Family).