Posted by Siseko Tapile
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When South Sudan national football team hosted Togo national football team on Monday, October 13, 2025, the stakes felt oddly low – both sides had already said goodbye to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match unfolded at Juba Stadium in South Sudan’s capital, with kickoff at 13:00 UTC (15:00 local). FIFA World Cup 2026 CAF Qualifiers – Round 10Juba Stadium ended in a goalless draw, sealing the final chapter of both campaigns.
Group B has been a study in contrast. Cape Verde surged ahead early, eventually clinching the group and the coveted automatic African slot for the World Cup. South Sudan scraped together five points from ten matches – five draws, five defeats – never tasting a win. Togo fared just a shade better, adding a solitary victory to their eight‑point haul, but that wasn’t enough to leapfrog into the knockout‑round playoff.
The last‑place team, Eswatini, was already out, and the match in Juba was essentially a dead rubber. Still, fans turned out, hoping for pride, maybe a rare win to end the night on a high note.
South Sudan kicked off with a modest eleven, led between the sticks by Majak Maling (jersey 23). The back four – Benjamin Laku, Samuel Taban, Okocha Rashid and Geriga Atendele – set up a compact, low‑block defense. In midfield, Peter Chan tried to dictate tempo, while Mario Taban shuffled the ball laterally. Up front, Keer Majak and Joseph Dhata pressed, but the lack of a clinical finisher was evident.
Togo’s eleven mirrored a similar shape: goalkeeper Kossi Akpovi guarded the net, while the defense – Koffi Vava, Alphonse Sambiri, Bertrand Ahoua and Mamadou Kakou – kept a tight line. Midfield trio of Yao Annor, Gervais Yenoussi and Valentino Yuel shuffled possession, while the forwards Eric Agyemang and Moussa Koita only managed a handful of half‑chances.
The first half was a series of fouls, the most notable at the 36th minute when Peter Chan was booked for a mistimed tackle. Neither side threatened the goal. The second half saw a flurry of changes: at 56 minutes, John Manyang replaced Chan, and Togo responded by pulling off their own three‑player shuffle – Y. Annor for Yenoussi, Valentino Yuel for Majak, and so on. The substitutions injected fresh legs but not a breakthrough. By the 78th minute everything settled into a rhythm of cautious passes and a few half‑volley attempts that fizzed out just beyond the box.
Even the late‑stage fouls – a second booking for John Manyang at 86 minutes – couldn’t spark a response. The whistle blew, the score remained 0‑0, and both camps collected a point that would ultimately be meaningless for qualification.
South Sudan’s head coach John Obasi was blunt in his post‑match interview: “We showed spirit, we defended well, but we lacked the cutting edge. A draw against a team of Togo’s calibre is respectable, yet we need a striker who can finish.” He praised the defensive solidity, especially the performance of Geriga Atendele, who “kept the line organized until the final whistle.”
On the Togo side, coach Claude Le Roy (the French veteran) expressed mild disappointment: “We had chances, especially after the 60th minute. The squad fought hard, but a goalless draw won’t move us forward. We must regroup, focus on the upcoming African Nations Championship.” A senior player, Eric Agyemang, added, “It hurts because we expected to at least take three points. Still, the fans deserved a decent show, and they gave us that.”
Local supporters in Juba, meanwhile, sang the national anthem loudly after the final whistle, waving flags despite the result. One fan, 19‑year‑old Miriam, told reporters, “It’s not about winning the World Cup; it’s about showing the world that South Sudan can host a proper match. We’re proud.”
The immediate impact is simple: both teams are out of the race. South Sudan finishes 6th with a 0‑5‑5 record, confirming a winless campaign – a stark reminder that the young football nation still has a long way to go. Togo’s 4th‑place finish, with just one win, leaves them on the periphery of African football’s elite. Their modest point total underscores the widening gap between the continent’s emerging sides and the established powerhouses like Egypt or Senegal.
On a broader level, the match highlights CAF’s competitive format. With only five automatic spots and a playoff for a potential sixth, many nations see their hopes evaporate before the final round. Analysts at BBC Sport argue that the current system rewards depth and consistency – qualities South Sudan lacks but Cape Verde demonstrated brilliantly.
Financially, the draw offers little relief. Ticket sales for the Juba match were modest; the match‑day revenue covered only a fraction of stadium operating costs. For the South Sudanese federation, the result may trigger a review of youth development programs and coaching education, areas already identified as under‑funded.
Both federations have already outlined short‑term roadmaps. South Sudan intends to host a regional U‑23 tournament later this year, hoping to give young talent exposure and to attract scouting interest. The federation also announced a partnership with a European club academy to train coaches – a move aimed at turning the defensive solidity seen in Juba into a more attacking philosophy.
Togo, on the other hand, will focus on the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in early 2026. Coach Le Roy hinted at a squad reshuffle, with a few European‑based players expected to join the camp. The goal, according to the Togolese Football Federation, is to finish in the top three at CHAN, a stepping stone toward a stronger World Cup qualifying campaign next cycle.
For fans, the next encounter between the two sides might not happen until the next qualifying window, but the memory of a quiet night in Juba will linger – a reminder that even a goalless draw can carry a story worth telling.
The draw confirms South Sudan’s elimination. Finishing sixth with zero wins leaves them with just five points, far behind the group winner Cape Verde (13 points). The team must now look to regional tournaments for development.
Togo remains out of contention. Their single win and eight points place them fourth, three points shy of the playoff spot. The team will redirect focus to the upcoming African Nations Championship to rebuild confidence.
Beyond qualification, hosting a World Cup qualifier showcases South Sudan’s ability to stage international events, boosts national pride, and provides local players with exposure to higher‑level competition.
The next likely encounter is during the 2026 African Nations Championship qualifiers, scheduled for early 2026. A friendly could be arranged, but no official date has been set yet.
With only five automatic spots, many African nations face early exits, prompting calls for a revised system that offers more playoff opportunities. Critics argue the current format favors traditionally strong nations and hampers growth in emerging football countries.
Comments
Daisy Pimentel
We seem to have turned a potential moment of pride into a lesson on complacency. The stadium echoed with chants, yet the teams offered only a muted display of ambition. One could argue that spectators deserve more than a polite pat on the back for merely showing up. In the grand theater of football, a scoreless draw is a whisper when a roar is demanded. So let us not celebrate participation alone; let us demand progress.
October 14, 2025 at 01:00
Ellen Ross
Honestly, this match was a masterclass in mediocrity, and not the good kind. The tactics were as vague as a foggy morning in London, and the execution? Pure tehirld. If you wanted a display of strategic brilliance, you should have tuned in elsewhere, because here we got a showcase of how not to win. The players looked like they were auditioning for a nap commercial, not a World Cup qualifier.
October 14, 2025 at 12:07
Fabian Rademacher
There's something fishy about a match that ends 0‑0 when the whole qualification system is a puppet show. I bet the refs were paid in crypto by a shadowy consortium that wants certain nations to flop. The ball never seemed to find a net because the air itself was filtered through a secret algorithm. Wake up, folks – the beautiful game is being weaponized.
October 14, 2025 at 23:14
Terrell Mack
Gotta hand it to the lads for keeping the game tight and giving the fans something to watch. Defense was solid on both sides, and the coaches made tactical tweaks that showed they care about the team's growth. It's a building block – today’s stalemate could be tomorrow’s breakthrough.
October 15, 2025 at 10:20
Dawn Waller
Oh, bravo! A spectacular exhibition of... absolutely nothing, right? The players strutted around like they were auditioning for a fashion show, and the ball? It just glided past them like an offended ghost. Really, who needs goals when you can have a masterclass in strategic boredom, am I right??
October 15, 2025 at 21:27
Grace Melville
Quick tip: focus on finishing drills in training; it could turn draws into wins. 🙂
October 16, 2025 at 08:34
Ashlynn Barbery
While the result may appear discouraging, it is essential to acknowledge the defensive discipline displayed by both squads. The coaching staff should build upon this foundation, integrating more cohesive attacking patterns in forthcoming sessions to enhance goal‑scoring opportunities.
October 16, 2025 at 19:40
Sarah Graham
It’s tough seeing a dead‑rubber end without fireworks, but the fans showed up and that means a lot. Keep supporting the team; they’ll need this encouragement for future growth.
October 17, 2025 at 06:47
Jauregui Genoveva
Sure, a draw is a draw, but saying it’s “just a draw” feels like ignoring the bigger picture. 🙄 The real story is that these teams had a chance to prove something beyond the numbers, and they missed it. 😒
October 17, 2025 at 17:54
Quinten Squires
The match was, in essence, a perfect illustration of how tactics can stagnate when there is insufficient emphasis on creative freedom, which in turn often results in a suppression of the natural instincts that drive goal‑scoring, and the crowd’s reaction, though subdued, still reflected a deep‑seated desire for something more dynamic, which perhaps could have been achieved with a slightly more aggressive press, but then again the coaches may have opted for stability over risk, leading to an outcome that, while not disastrous, was undeniably underwhelming.
October 18, 2025 at 05:00
Tyler Manning
From a nationalistic perspective, the lack of a decisive result is simply unacceptable. Our athletes must embody the vigor of our nation, not settle for a tepid draw that undermines our standing on the continental stage. It is imperative that future selections prioritize players with proven competitive fire.
October 18, 2025 at 16:07
james patel
Analyzing the match data reveals a suboptimal xG differential, indicating missed opportunities in the final third due to low conversion efficiency. The possession metrics were relatively balanced, yet the transition phase lacked the requisite verticality.
October 19, 2025 at 03:14
Lois Parker
Not much to say, just a boring game. Could’ve been better.
October 19, 2025 at 14:20
Lerato Mamaila
From a cultural standpoint, the event in Juba was significant; it offered a platform for the local community to engage with the sport, fostering unity and pride. Even without goals, the experience contributed to a shared identity, which is invaluable.
October 20, 2025 at 01:27
Dennis Lohmann
Great effort from both sides! Keep the momentum going – the future is bright. 😊
October 20, 2025 at 12:34
Jensen Santillan
The match, when dissected through a rigorous analytical lens, emerges as a case study in defensive rigidity and offensive inertia. Firstly, both coaches employed a low‑block formation that, while effective in denying space, simultaneously constrained their own forward thrusts. Secondly, the midfield interchange lacked the creative spark necessary to unlock tightly packed defensive lines, resulting in predictable lateral passes that seldom penetrated the final third. Thirdly, the decision to introduce fresh legs after the hour mark appeared purely cosmetic, as the substitutes mirrored the positional discipline of their predecessors without injecting any palpable dynamism. Moreover, the statistical profile highlights a negligible Expected Goals (xG) value for both sides, underscoring the scarcity of quality chances. The shots that did materialize were largely from distance, lacking the precision and power to trouble the opposition's goalkeeper. From a tactical perspective, the absence of wing play further limited avenues for crossing, effectively bottlenecking attacking options. Additionally, the defensive units, while organized, failed to communicate effectively during set‑piece scenarios, a lapse that could have been catastrophic against more proficient opponents. In juxtaposition, the crowd’s engagement, though subdued by the scoreline, demonstrated a resilient enthusiasm that reflects the sport’s deep roots in the region. Finally, the broader implications for both national programs point to a pressing need for investment in offensive coaching, scouting for clinical strikers, and a revision of tactical philosophies that currently favor conservatism over ambition. In sum, the 0‑0 outcome is less a reflection of parity and more a symptom of systemic shortcomings that, if addressed, could elevate the competitive stature of both sides.
October 20, 2025 at 23:40
Mike Laidman
While the defensive effort is commendable, the lack of goal scoring is a glaring deficiency that cannot be ignored. A review of attacking drills is recommended.
October 21, 2025 at 10:47
J T
Zero goals, zero excitement.
October 21, 2025 at 21:54
A Lina
Regarding the concise suggestion above, while brevity can be effective, it may inadvertently dismiss the nuanced processes required for enhancing finishing proficiency. A systematic approach encompassing biomechanical analysis, situational drills, and psychological conditioning would likely yield more substantive improvements than a mere cursory tip.
October 22, 2025 at 09:00