Bandari FC midfielder called up to South Sudanese national team

Skillful midfielder Jackson Dwang is the latest Kenyan-born player to earn a call-up to the South Sudanese national team and is in line to make his debut for the Bright Stars.

The Bandari FC midfielder has been named in the squad that will take on Mali in an African Cup of Nations qualification match on Friday and the friendly match against Kenya on Tuesday, December 12th, in Nairobi.

The attacking midfielder, who recently completed a move to Bandari from Posta Rangers, was born in Kenya but is of South Sudanese descent through his parents. The former Nzoia Sugar man could now be handed his debut against Mali on Friday in what will be a dead-rubber clash in Bamako as the Bright Stars are bottom in Group G with just three points and have no chance of gracing next year’s tournament in the Ivory Coast.

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Other Kenyan-based players who are part of the squad for the two games include Paul Jawa of Rainbow FC. The attacker was part of the South Sudan U20 team at the U20 AFCON earlier this year, and he has now earned a promotion to the senior side.

The Kenya Police FC duo of Rashid Toha and Tito Okello are also part of the South Sudan squad. The four will also be keen on playing Harambee Stars on Tuesday in Nairobi. Stars are currently in Doha, where they will play Qatar on Thursday before flying back to host their neighbors.

Apart from Dwang, AFC Leopards midfielder Saad Musa is the other Kenyan-born player who got naturalized by Africa’s newest nation. He made his debut for the South Sudanese national team in 2021 but is currently sidelined with what’s said to be a long-term injury. Former Makolanders FC player Amy Lasu is also part of the South Sudan women's national team.

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