Coach Nicholas Dupuis has officially announced the provisional 33-man squad for South Sudan’s national football team, the Bright Stars, as they prepare for the upcoming 2024 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) Qualifiers.
The team is gearing up for an intense series of matches, with training sessions starting Tuesday, October 22, at Juba National Football Stadium.
In the CECAFA regional qualifiers, South Sudan will face Kenya in the first round of the knockout stages. The winner of this tie will advance to the second stage to play either Djibouti or Rwanda, with the victor securing a spot in the CHAN 2024 finals.
The first-leg matches are scheduled between October 25 and 27, 2024, while the return-leg matches will take place from November 1 to 3, 2024.
This edition of the CHAN tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1 to 28, 2025—the first time in CAF history that three nations have co-hosted the event.
As the hosts, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have already qualified, leaving CECAFA with one additional representative at the tournament, alongside three teams from other African regions.
CHAN 2024 PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Juma Jenaro – GK, El-Merriekh SC BentiuGodwill Yugusuk – GK, Jamus SCNicolas Madeng – GK, Zalan FCMachakos Marko – GK, El-Huriya FCRehan Angier – RB, Munuki FCOman Mobil – RB, Malakia FCWani Ivan – LB, El-Merriekh SC BentiuEmmanuel Maku – LB, Jamus SCEmmanuel Sebit – LB, Malakia FCPal Paul – CB, El-Merriekh SC BentiuSamuel Taban – CB, Jamus SCAtir Thomas – CB, El-Merriekh SC BentiuBenjamin Laku – CB, Jamus SCMadut Chol – CB, Amarat UnitedChol Peter – DM, El-Merriekh SC BentiuMandela Malish – DM, Munuki FCSunday Peter – DM, Kator FCJoseph Malish – DM, Kator FCKenyi Shadrack – DM, Malakia SCChudier Abraham – AM, Kator FCNelson Victor – AM, Munuki FCOmar Luate – AM, Jamus SCYohanna Paulino – W, Jamus SCSijali Ismail – W, El-Huriya FCEmmanuel Jowang – W, Malakia SCEbon Malish – W, Jamus SCTito Lukciir – W, Simba FCPatrick Oleyo – F, Viva Stars FCAllan Museven – F, Nyakurón FCMabior Herijok – F, Malakia SCKeer Mangar – F, Atlabara FCMakueth Wol – F, Kator FCEmmanuel Udu – Position TBD
The Bright Stars are expected to bring their best form to the qualifiers, with key players from top local clubs aiming to secure a final spot.
Their opening match against Kenya will be a significant challenge, but South Sudan could make history by progressing further in the competition with the right preparation.