South Sudan claimed its first victory in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers by defeating the Republic of Congo 3-2. Despite conceding an early goal, South Sudan rallied with two second-half strikes. Coach Nicholas Dupuis praised his team’s performance and looked forward to their next matches, while Republic of Congo’s coach acknowledged defensive mistakes as factors in their loss.
South Sudan achieved a remarkable victory in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, defeating the Republic of Congo 3-2. This win marks South Sudan’s inaugural success in Group K, having previously experienced a challenging campaign. Head coach Nicholas Dupuis expressed pride in his players’ resilience after an early setback in the first half, which saw the team recover and secure the win with two second-half goals. Dupuis highlighted the necessity for improvement in defending set pieces while emphasizing the confidence boost this victory provides for upcoming matches. Looking ahead, Dupuis aims to focus on the second round of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), where they will face Rwanda. He acknowledges the importance of maintaining the team’s momentum as they prepare to challenge South Africa in their final AFCON fixture, stating that it would serve as an educational experience for his squad. Meanwhile, Republic of Congo’s head coach, Isaac Ngata, lamented the defensive errors that hindered his team’s performance, blaming a lack of concentration after taking the lead on two occasions. Ngata acknowledged that while the team managed to score more than one goal, defensive lapses ultimately cost them the match. As the Group K standings currently indicate, Uganda leads with ten points, followed by South Africa with eight points. The Republic of Congo sits with four points, and South Sudan trails slightly behind with three points.
The 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers serve as a crucial tournament for African national teams vying for a spot in the prestigious continental championship. Matches are characterized by intense competition as teams seek to improve their standings and build momentum for upcoming encounters. South Sudan’s recent victory against the Republic of Congo highlights the unpredictable nature of these qualifiers and signals a turning point for a team still developing its competitive edge in the regional football scene.
In conclusion, South Sudan’s 3-2 victory over the Republic of Congo not only marks a critical achievement in their AFCON qualifying campaign but also serves as a source of renewed confidence for the players and coaching staff. As they prepare for upcoming challenges, the lessons learned from this match may significantly influence their future performances. Conversely, Republic of Congo will need to address defensive shortcomings to remain competitive in the ongoing qualifiers.
Original Source: www.uniindia.com
