South Sudan is set to host Uganda on Tuesday in a crunch match for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a win sealing Uganda’s qualification for the tournament in Morocco.
South Sudan’s head coach, Nicholas Dupuis, said that his team is prepared to bring happiness to the home fans despite slim hopes of qualification for AFCON, following the 1-0 defeat to Uganda in the first fixture in Kampala on October 11.
“In the first game, I was proud of my players, we had the first scoring opportunity in the first half and we did not score and in the second half we made mistakes. We can have a good result tomorrow against Uganda, and we are going to do our best to reward the fans,” Dupuis said on Monday during a press conference held in Juba.
South Sudan is winning less in Group K following defeats against South Africa, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
Dupuis said that his team is now focused on the upcoming fixture against Kenya on October 25, in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN).
“My players have a good spirit and we are preparing for the CHAN competition on October 25 against Kenya,” he said.
Dupuis lamented the costly mistakes made by his team against opponents, which have left South Sudan ranking bottom of their group.
“I would like to give confidence to my players when we have the training they can play very well and keep the ball but when we play official games it is not the same,” he disclosed.
Paul Joseph Put, the coach of the Ugandan team [praised the strong mentality of his players in away matches, adding that his players will not give away anything against South Sudan who will be out to revenge the first defeat.
The people of the two neighboring countries have a close historical relationship that dates back to the liberation struggle that paved the way for South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
“I know South Sudan is a good team, we are neighbors and most of our players are friends but football is not about friendship but a battle to get points, and for us, we came here to get the points,” Khaled Aucho, captain of the Ugandan team said.
He noted that they are motivated due to thousands of Ugandans living in South Sudan, whom they hope will turn up to support them.
