Confederation of African Football (CAF) newest member South Sudan is likely to miss their last match of the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.
The development follows the ‘inability’ of the country’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to finance the team’s trip to Equatorial Guinea.
Part of a statement released by the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) read;
The South Sudan Football Association received a letter today 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.
Forfeiting of the match amounts to automatic disqualification from the next qualifying campaign coupled with a fine up to a tune of $30,000.
According to the statement, Andrea Abdallah, the association vice-president has stated that the SSFA will desperately attempt to find another source of funding in an effort to get the team to Malabo.
South Sudan has no chance of making the final tournament. They are third in Group C with 3 points, behind leaders Mali (13 points) and Benin (11 points).
South Sudan’s three points came from their historic 1-0 home win over Equatorial Guinea courtesy of Atak Lual’s 52nd minute goal.
