February 22 – Women’s football in South Sudan took a major step forward this weekend with the inauguration of a new domestic league.
In December, the South Sudan FA (SSFA) activated a Stars Unite programme with the appointment of former Uganda international Jean Sseninde to drive their women’s football strategy forward and transform the local game.
This weekend, the country’s first women’s league got underway with Kuajok Women FC playing Bentiu United FC, Torit Women FC entertaining Wau Women FC and Yambio Women FC facing Yei Joint Stars FC on Sunday.
Bentiu United FC picked up a 1-0 win away at the expense of the Kuajok Women while Yei Joint Stars FC defeated Yambio Women’s FC 3-0. Torit Women FC recorded the biggest win of the opening weekend, putting eight goals past their opponents.
South Sudan, one of the youngest countries in the world, having gained independence in 2011, became the 209th FIFA member association in 2012 and the African country is hoping to develop both the men’s and women’s game at a rapid pace.
In 2019, South Sudan’s women’s national team played its first international game during the regional CECAFA Women’s Football Championship. They slumped to 9-0 and 3-0 defeats at the hands of Tanzania and Burundi respectively, but did triumph 5-0 over Zanzibar.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713930542labto1713930542ofdlr1713930542owedi1713930542sni@o1713930542fni1713930542