Ahead of the forthcoming friendly with Eritrea, South Sudan national team coach Nicolas Dupuis has given a positive on his team’s preparations.

The Bright Stars have intensified training for the away friendly against Eritrea on February 20, with both teams eager to get players in shape ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary round qualifying matches.

🔵Just in | Coach Nicolas Dupuis’ provisional squad for the friendly against Eritrea on February 20.#BrightStar | #SSD | #Eritrea | #TRISTAR pic.twitter.com/t3MuqJdmwW

— South Sudan Football Association (@ssfa_com) February 9, 2026

The Bright Stars regrouped for training earlier this week, as the Frenchman looks forward to probably his first even warm up game with the East African national team.

“It was the first training today; one hour and 40 minutes,” Dupuis told the South Sudan Football Association on Thursday.

“It was very good. We have a lot of young players. I saw all the games of the Championship, and because of that, we have a lot of new players.

“We do not have any players based outside, but it is not a problem for us because we are going to play a friendly game. It is very important to play a friendly game.”

The friendly is important for both teams as they gear up for the 2027 AFCON preliminary round qualifying campaign starting off with Djibouti.

“It would be my first time to play a friendly game with South Sudan,” Dupuis said.

What you need to know about preliminary rounds

“It would be very important for us to prepare for the Djibouti game. I congratulate all the players because physically, they are ready. We congratulate all the coaches of the teams because their players are ready. Tactically, we have work to do.”

According to the draw for the AFCON preliminary qualifying rounds, South Sudan were pitted against Djibouti.

In other games, Seychelles will face Lesotho, Chad take on Burundi, Somalia date Mauritius, Eritrea will take on Eswatini, and Sao Tome and Principe will play Ethiopia.

The preliminary round matches will be played between March 25 and 31. The 2027 AFCON finals will take place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

South Sudan National Team Preparations for Eritrea Friendly Ahead of AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

Ahead of the forthcoming international friendly with Eritrea, South Sudan national team coach Nicolas Dupuis has expressed optimism regarding his side’s preparations. The Bright Stars have intensified training sessions as they gear up for the away friendly scheduled for February 20, a crucial encounter that forms part of their build-up to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary qualifying campaign.

The match offers South Sudan a valuable opportunity to assess their readiness before facing Djibouti in the preliminary round qualifiers. Both teams are using the fixture as a platform to fine-tune tactics, evaluate squad depth, and build team chemistry.

South Sudan National Team Preparations Begin in Earnest

The South Sudan national team regrouped earlier this week for intensive training sessions under the guidance of head coach Nicolas Dupuis. The French tactician confirmed that the first session lasted approximately one hour and forty minutes, focusing on physical conditioning and tactical organization.

“It was the first training today; one hour and 40 minutes,” Dupuis told the South Sudan Football Association. “It was very good. We have a lot of young players. I saw all the games of the Championship, and because of that, we have a lot of new players.”

Dupuis emphasized the importance of integrating fresh talent into the squad. With no foreign-based players available for this friendly, the coach has turned to domestic league performers, offering young prospects an opportunity to impress on the international stage.

While some may view the absence of overseas-based players as a disadvantage, Dupuis remains unconcerned. “We do not have any players based outside, but it is not a problem for us because we are going to play a friendly game. It is very important to play a friendly game,” he explained.

The friendly against Eritrea will likely mark Dupuis’ first warm-up match in charge of the Bright Stars, giving him a clearer understanding of his squad’s strengths and areas that require improvement.

Importance of the Eritrea Friendly for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

The South Sudan national team preparations are centered around their upcoming AFCON 2027 preliminary qualifier against Djibouti. The friendly provides a critical rehearsal before competitive action begins.

“It would be very important for us to prepare for the Djibouti game,” Dupuis added. “I congratulate all the players because physically, they are ready. We congratulate all the coaches of the teams because their players are ready. Tactically, we have work to do.”

Physical fitness appears to be at a satisfactory level, but tactical refinement remains a priority. The coaching staff is expected to use the Eritrea match to test different formations and player combinations.

For South Sudan, the stakes are high. The preliminary round will determine which teams advance into the main AFCON qualifying phase, making every preparation step vital.

AFCON 2027 Preliminary Round Draw and Fixtures

According to the official draw for the AFCON 2027 preliminary qualifying rounds, South Sudan will face Djibouti. The winner over two legs will advance to the next stage of the competition.