Uganda vs South Sudan: A Growing Football Rivalry Rekindled in AFCON 2025 Qualifiers

Football matches between Uganda and South Sudan are not meant to cause tension between the two nations. However, recent encounters have ignited a fierce rivalry that resonates equally in Kampala and Juba.

Uganda, with its rich footballing history, might have been expected to easily overshadow South Sudan, a nation that only gained independence on July 9, 2011.

Yet, this has not been the case. The rising competitiveness between the two sides has created anticipation ahead of their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying matches.

A Fierce Rivalry Ignites

When the Cranes of Uganda and the Bright Stars of South Sudan were drawn together in Group K alongside South Africa and Congo Brazzaville, many unfamiliar with the dynamics of East African football assumed Uganda would have an easy path.

But recent history suggests otherwise. The two nations will meet on October 11th in Kampala and October 15th in Juba, in matches likely to capture the attention of the entire region.

Their last encounters between the two sides were in 2020, during the 2021 AFCON qualifiers, Uganda won 1-0 in Kitende, however, South Sudan shocked many by winning the return fixture 1-0 at Nyayo Stadium in Kenya.

A result that ultimately cost Uganda a spot in the finals held in Cameroon the following year.

Mubiru Confident in Uganda’s Superiority 

Abdallah Mubiru, who was assisting head coach John McKinstry at the time, does not believe South Sudan should be considered Uganda's equal.

"The quality of their players hasn't yet matched that of our national team," Mubiru told SportsBoom.co.za. 

"When we played them, we were dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and not many of our players were actively competing."

Mubiru added, "Maybe we didn't take them seriously enough in the return leg. But with things back to normal now, South Sudan shouldn’t pose a threat to Uganda. The Cranes should be able to collect all six points, as our quality is superior."

Securing six points from South Sudan will almost certainly secure Uganda’s ticket to Morocco for AFCON 2025.

Basena’s Warning: Never Underestimate the Bright Stars

Moses Basena, who coached Uganda during their 5-1 aggregate victory over South Sudan in the 2017 African Nations Championship qualifiers, warns against underestimating them.

“These days, the difference between strong and weak teams is very slim,” Basena told Sportsboom. “You can’t say it’s going to be a walkover, they're a completely changed side.”