Djibouti vs South Sudan: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 26 March 2026
Djibouti
South Sudan
The opening clash of the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between Djibouti and South Sudan will take place on Wednesday, March 26th. For these two teams, languishing at the bottom of the FIFA rankings, this is a crucial opportunity to break into the group stage and make their mark on the continental stage.
Match preview
Djibouti currently occupies 196th place in the world rankings. The team is enduring a tough campaign: in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the "Shore Hawks" suffered a string of crushing defeats, including a 0-6 loss to Burkina Faso and a 1-6 defeat to Ethiopia in March 2025. Djibouti relies on rare counterattacks and physical endurance, but their main Achilles' heel is a shaky defense, conceding an average of 3.8 goals per game over their last five matches.
Squad-wise, the "hosts" remain relatively stable. The main hope rests on forward Gabriel Dadzie, who plays for Libya's Al Tersana and is a rare bright spot in their attacking line. However, Djibouti will have to cope with immense pressure: due to CAF directives, both legs will be played behind closed doors, depriving the team of even minimal emotional support. The head coach is likely to opt for a highly defensive setup in an effort to keep their chances alive heading into the return leg.
South Sudan is ranked 168th in the FIFA rankings and are clear favorites in this tie. The "Bright Stars," under a new coaching staff, are showing progress in their organizational play. In October 2025, they managed to snatch a point against Togo (0-0) and lost to Syria in the Arab Cup qualifiers by only 0-2, displaying solid defensive discipline. For South Sudan, this round is a must-win hurdle, and they intend to overcome it thanks to their higher-quality squad.
Despite their favorite status, the visitors still lack consistency in the final third. Striker Keer Majak is in excellent form, while experienced defender Samuel Taban anchors the back line. The fact that both matches will be played in Juba (the capital of South Sudan) gives the "visitors" a huge logistical advantage, even with no fans in attendance. South Sudan will no doubt look to settle the tie in the first leg, leveraging their superior ball control and physical fitness.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Djibouti has lost all of their last nine matches.
- Djibouti are winless in sixteen consecutive games.
- South Sudan, meanwhile, are winless in their last eight matches.
- In five of South Sudan’s last seven games, fewer than three goals have been scored.
- These teams have never met before.
Probable lineups
- Djibouti: Youssouf – Houmed Bilha, Idrissou, Zakaria, Siad, Idriss Mohamed – Aden, Hassan, Farah, Mahamed – Dadzie
- South Sudan: Mawith – Laku, Taban, Puk Kun Pal, Rashid – Malish, Chan, Albano – Chol, Majak, Leku
Prediction
We’re set for a clash between two teams with very different levels of organization. Djibouti is in the midst of a severe crisis, conceding far too many goals to hope for success even against Africa’s mid-tier sides. South Sudan look much more solid, especially defensively. Considering the match will be played in Juba and Djibouti’s poor away form, the "Bright Stars" should be expected to take the win. My prediction: South Sudan to win.
