By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan
JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s U17 national team is set to begin its final preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 CECAFA qualifiers, with training scheduled for Tuesday morning at 7:00 AM at the Bulluk Playground in Juba.
The Junior Bright Stars, under head coach Mawien Deng Ajiing, popularly known as Manawa, will begin training after completing the MRI age-verification process at JMC Hospital in Juba on Monday evening.
The MRI process has significantly affected the composition of the squad, with additional players reportedly summoned from football academies after a number of the initially selected players did not pass the assessment.
According to a reliable source within the South Sudan Football Federation, 86 players underwent the MRI test, with 32 reported to have passed. The federation has yet to publicly release a detailed breakdown of the results.
South Sudan now has a limited window to finalise its squad and complete registration on the CAF Competition Management System (CMS) ahead of the 30 September 2026 deadline.
Coach Manawa is expected to name his final travelling squad on Wednesday, although the exact number of players and the team's departure date have yet to be confirmed.
Under the CECAFA logistical arrangements, accommodation will be provided for a delegation of 28 people — 20 players and eight technical staff. If South Sudan travels with 25 players, the federation would therefore be expected to cover accommodation for the additional five players.
South Sudan has been drawn in Group A alongside Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan, with the CECAFA zonal qualifiers scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 10 to 20 October 2026.
The top three teams from the CECAFA zone will qualify to represent the region at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
Tanzania are the reigning CECAFA U17 champions, having defeated Uganda in last year's final when the tournament was hosted by Ethiopia.
For South Sudan, Tuesday's training session will mark the beginning of an important final phase as the Junior Bright Stars work to complete their squad, meet the CAF registration deadline and prepare for their regional campaign in Kigali.
