U17 AFCON: South Sudan squad faces delay ahead of CECAFA Zonal Qualifier

The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has confirmed that its Under-17 national team has yet to depart for Ethiopia for the 2026 CECAFA Zonal Qualifier of the African U-17 Cup of Nations.

The tournament is set to kick off on November 15, with games being hosted in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.

The SSFA stated that they have encountered a passport issue before departing for Addis Ababa. The U17 side is scheduled to face Somalia on the opening day, but so far, that game is hanging in the balance. In an official statement, the SSFA said the issue has arisen from the unavailability of passports in South Sudan.

“The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) wishes to inform the public, media houses, and the entire sports family that we are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure that our U-17 national team travels and participates in the upcoming competition.

Despite the current challenge of passport unavailability in the country, the Federation is doing everything possible to resolve the issue in time. The Federation remains fully committed to supporting and promoting youth competitions.”

South Sudan has been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Rwanda.