South Sudan National Team Returns to Juba After Goalless Draw in Mauritania

South Sudan National Team Returns to Juba After Goalless Draw in Mauritania

The South Sudan national team has safely returned to Juba this afternoon following their goalless draw against Mauritania in Matchday 8 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African Qualifiers.

The match, played on Tuesday, September 9th, in Nouakchott, was a hard-fought encounter, with the Bright Stars showing great determination and resilience to earn a valuable point away from home.

The team had traveled to Mauritania on the back of a disappointing 4-1 defeat to DR Congo in Matchday 7, held at the Juba National Stadium.

 Despite that setback, the squad responded with a spirited performance, holding their opponents to a draw and showing signs of improvement.

While the result highlights the team’s growing character, it was not enough to revive their World Cup qualification hopes. 

South Sudan has now officially been eliminated from contention for the 2026 tournament.

Coach Nicolas Dupuis’ side currently sits at the bottom of Group B with just 4 points from eight matches.