Senegal Faces South Sudan in Crucial World Cup Qualifier

JUBA, South Sudan — Senegal‘s national team, the Teranga Lions, faces South Sudan on October 10, 2025, in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match that could secure their place in the tournament. Senegal leads Group B with 18 points, remaining unbeaten in the qualifiers, while South Sudan sits at the bottom with just four points.

Senegal’s recent performance has been strong, including a memorable 3-2 victory against DR Congo. Defender El Hadji Malick Diouf expressed the team’s determination, stating, “We have two finals for World Cup qualification… We have to win both games and go directly to the World Cup.” Senegal must win this match to maintain their position at the top of the group.

South Sudan has struggled during this qualifying campaign, failing to secure a single win. They are coming off a goalless draw against Mauritania and are looking to regain some pride against a dominant Senegalese side. Coach Nicolas Dupuis acknowledged the challenge, saying, “We have nothing to play for at this point, but we will fight for pride against the Teranga Lions.”

Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw is buoyed by the return of key players like Sadio Mane, who played a significant role in their last match. Thiaw’s squad has scored a total of 13 goals while conceding only three. “Anything less than a win could jeopardize our qualification hopes,” Thiaw emphasized.

The match will take place at Juba Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 1 PM local time. Senegal hopes to leave Juba with all three points, solidifying their path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.