The South Sudan national football team, also known as the Bright Stars, are set to face Togo in a World Cup qualifier match where pride, rather than qualification, is the main prize. The match comes after a tough 5-0 defeat against Senegal, a result that led to the temporary suspension of head coach Nicolas Dupuis.
Caretaker coach Simon James Yor has emphasized the need for the team to learn from their mistakes and adapt their approach for the game against Togo. He hinted at potential changes to the starting lineup, aiming to maximize the team's potential and secure a victory.
"We made mistakes that cost us dearly. However, we are focused on learning from those errors and adapting our approach," Yor told the South Sudan Football Federation media.
South Sudan currently sits at the bottom of Group B with four points from nine games, while Togo is fourth with seven points. With both teams out of contention for a spot in the World Cup finals, the match at Juba Stadium will be about finishing the qualifying campaign on a positive note.
Here are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams:
South Sudan Starting XI:
- Mawith
- Dhata
- Peter Toha
- Rehan Laku
- Rashid Okocha
- Mario Albano
- Peter Chan
- Paul Chol
- Junior Daniel
- Richard Innocent
- Tito Okello
Togo Starting XI:
- Mensah
- Boma
- Amevor
- Boateng
- Bode
- Denkey
- Yenoussi
- Aholou
- Romao
- Klidje
Fans can expect an open and entertaining contest as both teams play with freedom, aiming to end their World Cup qualifying journey with a morale-boosting result.