South Sudan Dominates Djibouti 4-0 in AFCON 2027 Qualifier
Juba, 26 March 2026
The Bright Stars delivered a commanding performance against Djibouti in Juba, with Keer Majak emerging as the star player, scoring once and providing two assists. South Sudan took control early through Kuol T.’s 31st-minute opener, then exploded in the second half with three more goals. The emphatic victory gives South Sudan a massive advantage heading into the second leg, leaving Djibouti facing an almost impossible task to overturn a four-goal deficit and advance to the group stage qualifiers.
First Half Foundation
The match at Juba National Stadium on Thursday, 26 March 2026, began at 13:00 GMT and was played behind closed doors [1][3]. South Sudan established their dominance early, with the breakthrough coming in the 31st minute when Bangasi J. set up Kuol T. to open the scoring [1]. Despite the early pressure from the hosts, Djibouti managed to keep the deficit to just one goal heading into half-time, offering a glimmer of hope for the visitors [1]. The Red Sharks entered this preliminary qualifier having suffered four losses in five previous meetings against South Sudan, making their task even more challenging [2].
Second Half Explosion
Any hopes of a Djibouti comeback were quickly extinguished after the restart, as South Sudan stepped up their intensity significantly [1]. Bangasi J. doubled the lead in the 49th minute, finishing off a move orchestrated by Keer Majak, who was instrumental throughout the contest [1]. The floodgates then opened as Majak turned provider again in the 66th minute, setting up Maker P. to make it 3-0 and effectively put the result beyond doubt [1]. Majak capped off his impressive individual display by scoring South Sudan’s fourth goal in the 81st minute, sealing a comprehensive victory that demonstrated the hosts’ superior attacking capabilities [1].
Djibouti’s Uphill Battle
Djibouti found it difficult to gain any foothold in the game, with South Sudan dominating possession and creating the better chances throughout the 90 minutes [1]. Their defensive frailties were particularly exposed in the second half, as they failed to contain South Sudan’s attacking threat [1]. The defeat leaves them facing a daunting task in the return leg, scheduled for 31 March 2026, where they will need a near-perfect performance to overturn the four-goal deficit [1][3]. The Red Sharks had finished 2025 with a streak of seven consecutive victories, but this emphatic defeat represents a significant setback to their qualification ambitions [2].
Qualification Implications
The match forms part of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 Preliminary Round, with the lowest-ranked teams competing for six places in the next stage [1]. South Sudan’s emphatic victory places them firmly in control of the tie and boosts their confidence as they aim to progress further in the competition [1]. With both legs being played at the same venue in Juba, the Bright Stars will look to capitalise on their familiarity with the conditions to complete the job in the second encounter [1]. This represents a significant opportunity for South Sudan to advance in African football competition, following what the South Sudan Football Association described as a mixed campaign in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers [2]. The live broadcast was made available on the South Sudan Football Association’s official Facebook page, allowing supporters to follow the action despite the match being played without fans in attendance [3].