World Cup (Q): ‘Nothing is impossible’ – South Sudan coach Dupuis warns Senegal

South Sudan national team head coach Nicolas Dupuis has expressed unwavering confidence in his team’s readiness for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture against Senegal, one of Africa’s premier football rivals, at Juba National Stadium on Friday.

In the previous qualifying matches, the Bright Stars lost 4-1 against DR Congo and drew 0-0 against Mauritania. On the other hand, Senegal registered back-to-back wins, beating Sudan 2-0 at home before defeating DR Congo 3-2 away.

South Sudan prepared to restore pride against Senegal

Despite the heavy defeat against DR Congo, Dupuis insists the players are focused and prepared to restore pride after South Sudan’s early exit from the tournament.

“Our players have trained hard and are fully committed to giving their best performance tomorrow (Friday),” Dupuis explained. “We know Senegal is a formidable opponent, but we believe in our ability to rise to the occasion. Nothing is impossible in football.”

South Sudan focused on their performance

Singling out the importance of the match, Dupuis emphasised the team’s focus remains solely on their performance rather than the outcomes of other teams in their group.

“We are determined to confront every challenge with resilience and determination. The spirit of our players, combined with the support from our fans, will propel us forward,” he added.

While acknowledging the challenges posed by Senegal’s strong squad, Dupuis remains optimistic. “We are here to fight for every point. Our goal is to make our fans proud and show that we can deliver against all odds.”

Bright Stars forward Yuel Kuach said: “Today marks our final training session before we step into the battlefield tomorrow (Friday). We’ve prepared tirelessly, and now it’s time to put our skills to the test. We shall bring our best to make our fans proud.”

South Sudan are placed last in Group B with four points accumulated from zero wins, four draws and four defeats.

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