Senegal’s national team delivered a commanding performance at the Juba International Stadium on Friday, defeating South Sudan’s Bright Stars 5-0 in a Group B match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions, demonstrated their quality and attacking prowess against a South Sudanese side that struggled to contain the visitors’ relentless pressure.
The match remained competitive for much of the first half, with Senegal managing a single goal despite controlling possession. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Ismaila Sarr scored his 17th international goal, assisted by Iliman Ndiaye. The Bright Stars’ defense held firm for the remainder of the half, going into the break trailing by a single goal.
However, Senegal emerged from halftime with increased intensity and quickly put the game out of reach. Star forward Sadio Mané, Senegal’s all-time leading scorer, found the net just a minute into the second half, taking his international tally to 46 goals.
The visitors continued to press their advantage. Sarr scored his second goal of the afternoon in the 54th minute, completing his brace.
A penalty, converted by Nicolas Jackson a minute before the hour mark, extended the lead to 4-0. Substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a fifth goal in the 76th minute to seal the comprehensive victory for the West Africans.
The result solidifies Senegal’s position at the top of the Group B standings. They can secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with a victory in their final match against Mauritania on Tuesday.
For the Bright Stars of South Sudan, the defeat marks their fifth in the qualifying campaign, leaving them in sixth place in the group.
The team will look to regroup and end their campaign on a positive note when they host the Togo national team at the same venue on Monday. The match offers a final opportunity for the squad to secure a result in front of their home supporters and build experience for future competitions.