South Sudan’s participation in the last round of the 2017 AFCON 2017 qualifiers is doubtful after the government in a letter to South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) Saturday indicated they are unable to cater for the team’s transport to Malabo.
The Bright Stars are scheduled for an away encounter against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday September 4, 2016 in Malabo.
A statement from SSFA read as follows;
“The South Sudan Football Association received a letter today (Saturday) from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Government of South Sudan that they are not able to provide the funding required to transport the team to Equatorial Guinea for the African Cup of Nations qualifier to be played in Malabo on September 4th.”
Mr. Andrea Abdallah, the vice-president of SSFA has stated that the SSFA will desperately attempt to find another source of funding in an effort to get the team to Malabo, sentiments echoed by his boss Mr. Chabur Gok Lei;
“I am not sure of our participation right now but we are doing everything within our means to ensure the same.” Chabur told Soka25east.com.
Non-participation in the qualifier would result in an automatic fine of up to $30,000 USD imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as well as definite disqualification from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Despite the SSFA being FIFA member association, the nascent organization is heavily reliant on government funding to participate in such major tournaments, and implement some of their goals.
The Letter to SSFA
@bonfaceosano
