Late Abdulrahman Strike Gives Nujoum Jamaric First Leg Edge Over Al Rabita in Promotion Playoff

 10th May 2025

By Emmanuel Patrick Laku – Sports Hunter South Sudan

Abdulrahman Adam’s late winner handed Second Division League outfit Nujoum Jamaric a crucial 2-1 advantage over Al Rabita FC, the bottom club in the Juba Local 1st Division League, in the first leg of the promotion/relegation playoff played at Bulluk Playground in Juba on Saturday, 10th May 2025.

Nujoum Jamaric, who finished fourth in the Second Division League behind champions Al Huriya, second-placed Talaga, and third-placed Bajur, wasted no time in asserting themselves. It took just 11 minutes for Emmanuel Sebit to break the deadlock, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

But Al Rabita, known to fans as the Commandos, came out stronger in the second half. Just seven minutes after the restart, Jean Pierre Makila Ayembe equalized with a clinical finish in the 52nd minute, injecting life back into their survival hopes.

However, with just five minutes left on the clock, it was Abdulrahman Adam who stunned the visiting fans with a composed finish in the 85th minute, restoring Nujoum Jamaric’s lead and securing a vital first leg victory.

The return leg, set for Tuesday 13th May 2025, at the same venue, promises fireworks. Al Rabita FC will need a 2-0 win to maintain their First Division status. A 1-0 win for Rabita will take the tie to penalties. Meanwhile, Nujoum Jamaric will need only a draw or win to book their historic place in the Konyokonyo League—the Juba Local League’s top tier—at the expense of the former South Sudan Cup champions, Al Rabita FC.

Photo Credit: Gour