World Cup Qualification 2026: South Sudan-Senegal, the likely lineups

Penultimate day of Group B of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, a potentially decisive round for Senegal, which with a victory against South Sudan and a simultaneous negative result of the Democratic Republic of Congo (engaged in Togo) would qualify directly for the rainbow event, avoiding the hurdle of the playoffs. It is being played at Juba Stadium in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

The “Bright Stars” hosts, who have never qualified for the World Cup, are already arithmetically eliminated from contention, with four draws and as many defeats in eight matches played. September’s last two matches came in a heavy home defeat against the Democratic Republic of Congo (4-1), which preceded a 0-0 draw in Mauritania. The technical commissioner is Frenchman Nicolas Dupuis, who has led the South Sudan national team since 2023.

On the other hand, Senegal wants to close the qualification discourse and obtain its third consecutive World Cup pass, fourth overall given the historic participation in 2002 in which the Lions of Teranga, led by the late Bruno Metsu on the bench and Papa Bouba Diop on the field, managed to reach the quarterfinals, yielding only at the golden goal against Turkey. The current coach is Pape Thiaw, and on the pitch the charismatic leader is Sadio Mané, former Liverpool and Bayern, now Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammate at’Al-Nassr.

Probable lineups

SOUTH SUDAN (4-2-3-1): Mawith; Taban, Toha, Puk Kun, Okocha; Malish, Chan Deng Yak; Mangar Majak, Peter Bentiu, Yuel; Okello. C.t. Dupuis.

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SENEGAL (4-3-3): Mendy; Diouf, Koulibaly, Seck, Diatta; P. Gueye, I. Gueye, Camara; Ndiaye, Jackson, Mane. C.t. Thiaw.