El Merriekh SC Bentiu Run Riot with 10-1 Hammering of Lion Hunters in League Opener

El Merriekh SC Bentiu Run Riot with 10-1 Hammering of Lion Hunters in League Opener

JUBA, Sept 14, 2025 – The Juba National Stadium erupted in goals on Sunday as El Merriekh SC Bentiu dismantled Lion Hunters FC with a commanding 10-1 victory in the opening match of the 2025/26 South Sudan Premier League.

The league’s second edition was officially launched in the presence of the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports Mary Nawai Cosmus and the new SSFF President Francis Amin Michael.

 Defending champions were absent due to participation of 11 of their players in national team duty in the FIFA World Cup African Qualifiers, while runners-up Kator are away in the Kagame Cup. That left third-placed Merriekh and 12th-placed Lion Hunters to open the season.

First Half: Ruthless Merriekh, Brief Hunter Resistance

El Merriekh signaled their intent early when Keer Mangar (13’) struck from close range after Nelson Victor’s setup. Five minutes later, Moukoro Cheick (18’) powered in a left-footed thunderbolt to double the lead.

Gaetan Masha (25’) then made it three from a rebound, before Nelson Victor (27’) split the defense for the fourth.

In the 35th minute, Masha completed his brace with a delightful chip for 5-0.

Lion Hunters briefly fought back through Anthony Billy “Madison” (40’), who unleashed a fierce strike to make it 5-1 at halftime.

Second Half: The Floodgates Open

Any hopes of a comeback were crushed when Nelson Victor (55’) rifled in his second for 6-1.  Moukoro Cheick (65’) then added his brace with another rocket to stretch the lead further.

Immediately after the goal, coach Abrahoma replaced forwards Moukoro Cheick and Gaetan Masha to give an opportunity for other foreign players to play, as the SSFF regulation only allows five foreign players on the pitch at the same time. The decision, backed by South Sudan national team head coach Nicolas Dupuis, was also aimed at giving more playing time to local players preparing for international duty.

The move paid off instantly: Nigerian forward Akinbinu Samuel (69’) marked his season debut with a first-touch goal, while Mabirizi Eric (73’) added the ninth after a clever through ball from Ousmane.

Finally, in stoppage time, midfielder Chol Peter “Habibu” (90+3’) curved in the 10th, lifting his hands to gesture “enough” as the fans celebrated wildly.

Final Whistle: Statement of Intent

The referee’s whistle confirmed a historic 10-1 victory for El Merriekh SC Bentiu, who storm to the top of the table after Matchday One. The blend of local and foreign stars — from Cheick’s rockets and Victor’s pace, to Samuel’s instant impact — showed the depth of Abrahoma’s squad under the five-foreign-player rule.

For Lion Hunters, Anthony Billy’s goal was their only highlight on a day to forget, as defensive questions mount ahead of their next fixture.

Fans’ Corner: With 10 goals flying in, which stood out most for you — Cheick’s long-range strikes, Samuel’s debut goal, or Habibu’s late curler?