South Sudan clinched their first-ever victory in a dramatic 3-2 win over Congo, driven by a fierce determination and a standout second-half performance.
The match started with intensity, as Congo’s Christopher Ibayi opened the scoring in the 26th minute. His sharp finish put Congo up 1-0, but South Sudan’s Ebon Wajo answered swiftly. Within five minutes, Wajo struck an equalizer, leveling the score at 1-1. Ibayi wasn’t done yet, scoring again in the 35th minute to restore Congo’s lead at 2-1. Yet, just before halftime, Wajo found the net once more, sending both teams to the break at 2-2.
The second half saw an escalation in South Sudan’s resolve, which peaked when Congo went down to 10 men following a red card in the 78th minute. Sensing opportunity, South Sudan pressed hard, launching a wave of relentless attacks. Their persistence paid off in the 84th minute when E. Data seized his chance, firing a powerful shot that found the back of the net and gave South Sudan a hard-earned 3-2 lead.
With the final whistle, South Sudan celebrated their first-ever victory in the qualifiers.
