South Sudan national football team
Bright Stars · CECAFA · Elo 1180 (51st in Africa)
About the South Sudan national team
The South Sudan national football team (Bright Stars) represents South Sudan in men's international football and competes in CAF's East and Central African (CECAFA) region.
In total, South Sudan have played 82 recorded internationals since 2012: 13 wins (15.9%), 16 draws and 53 defeats, with 55 goals scored and 150 conceded.
South Sudan have not yet qualified for a FIFA World Cup finals tournament.
Our Elo rating puts South Sudan on 1180 points: 51st in Africa and 208th in the world. Their highest rating (1290) came in 2015.
Next matches
All fixtures →- Egypt
28 Mar
South Sudan
Preview · 2027 AFCON qualification
Recent results
All results →DLDLDLWLLL
| Date | Opponent | Score | Competition | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 2026 | L | Egypt |
0–5 | AFCON Qualification | H · Juba |
| 25 Sep 2026 | L |  Malawi |
1–2 | AFCON Qualification | A · Lilongwe |
| 29 Mar 2026 | L |  Djibouti |
0–1 | AFCON Qualification | H · Juba |
| 26 Mar 2026 | W | Djibouti |
4–0 | AFCON Qualification | H · Juba |
| 25 Nov 2025 | L |  Syria |
0–2 | Arab Cup Qualification | N · Doha |
| 13 Oct 2025 | D |  Togo |
0–0 | World Cup Qualification | H · Juba |
| 10 Oct 2025 | L |  Senegal |
0–5 | World Cup Qualification | H · Juba |
| 9 Sep 2025 | D |  Mauritania |
0–0 | World Cup Qualification | A · Nouadhibou |
| 5 Sep 2025 | L |  DR Congo |
1–4 | World Cup Qualification | H · Juba |
| 25 Mar 2025 | D |  Sudan |
1–1 | World Cup Qualification | N · Benghazi |
| 21 Mar 2025 | L | DR Congo |
0–1 | World Cup Qualification | A · Kinshasa |
| 19 Nov 2024 | L |  South Africa |
0–3 | AFCON Qualification | A · Cape Town |
Key facts
- At home
- 4W 3D 12L (21% wins)
- Away
- 3W 3D 25L (10% wins)
- Neutral venues
- 6W 10D 16L (19% wins)
- Goals per match
- 0.67 scored, 1.83 conceded
- Clean sheets
- 18 (22%)
- Failed to score
- 48 matches (59%)
- Most common score
- 0–1 (14 times)
- vs Asia
- 0W 0D 2L
- Best decade
- 2020s (17% wins)
- First recorded match
- South Sudan 2–2 Uganda (2012)
Where South Sudanese players were born
All birthplaces →Each dot is a birthplace; bigger dots mean more players. Players born outside Africa are on the born abroad page.
Active South Sudanese internationals
Where they play →| Player | Position | Club | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machop Chol | Forward |  Atlanta United FC | – | – |
| Lawrence Nduga | Midfielder |  Jinja North United FC | – | – |
| Mario Albano | Midfielder | Future Stars Football Academy | – | – |
Players with an open club spell and a senior cap on record; not an official squad list.
Top scorers
Full list →- Keer Majak2025–2026
- Dominic Abui Pretino2015–2015
- Omot Sebit2025–2025
- Teng Kuol2026–2026
- Justin Bangasi2026–2026
- Peter Maker2026–2026
Record by competition
| Competition | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCON Qualification | 44 | 10 | 3 | 31 | 38 | 83 | 2014–2026 | |
| World Cup Qualification | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 26 | 2015–2025 | |
| CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 2012–2017 |
Notable South Sudanese players
All players →
James MogaSouth Sudan · b. 1983
Machop CholSouth Sudan · Atlanta United FC
R
Richard JustinSouth Sudan · b. 1979
G
Goma Genaro AwadSouth Sudan · b. 1982
A
Atak LualSouth Sudan · b. 1990
F
Friday ZicoSouth Sudan · b. 1994
K
Khamis LeyanoSouth Sudan · b. 1987
A
Athir ThomasSouth Sudan · b. 1987
L
Ladule Lako LoSarahSouth Sudan · b. 1987
D
Dominic Abui PretinoSouth Sudan · b. 1991
R
Roy GulwakSouth Sudan · b. 1985
D
Duach JockSouth Sudan · b. 1986
Frequently asked questions
What is the nickname of the South Sudan national team?
South Sudan are nicknamed the Bright Stars.
How many times have South Sudan won AFCON?
South Sudan have won the Africa Cup of Nations 0 times.
Have South Sudan played at the World Cup?
No, South Sudan have not qualified for a World Cup finals tournament yet.
What is the biggest win in South Sudan history?
South Sudan 6–0 Djibouti on 28 March 2017 (AFCON Qualification).