Bright Stars U-17 kicks off preps for maiden AFCON debut
Summary: The junior national team will make their first-ever appearance at the age group tournament set to be played in Algeria from May 1.
Coach Bilal Flex has summoned a 30-man provisional squad to begin early preparations for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which will be held in Algeria in May 2023.
The national under-17 men’s football team, the Bright Stars, is set to make its debut at the age group competition in under a month.
The team is set to begin nonresidential training today, at the Buluk Training Ground in Juba.
The squad is composed primarily of local-based players, with just nine players called up from foreign leagues.
Future Stars Academy (FSA) produced the highest number of players, 14.
South Sudan is drawn in Group C alongside Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Host Algeria is in Group A with Senegal, Congo, and Somalia, while Group B consists of Nigeria, Zambia, Morocco, and South Africa.
The Bright Stars will kick off the tournament with a game against Cameroon on May 1 before taking on Burkina Faso three days later.
The final group match will take place on May 7 against Mali.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the next round.
Below is a list of foreign-based players
Benson Joseph Oring (Abuanja, Sudan); David Mabil Ayuen Aguek (Elite Falcons), Bichiok Dang Daniel (Nairobi, Kenya) and Bashir Mayor from Arua Hills SC—Uganda.
Remo Ismail Sampuli (Rise of Grace Jinja—Uganda), Guet Duoth Guet (Brooke House Football Academy-UK), Aki Deng Ngong Madut (KCCA June team—Uganda), Jonathana Guem Majang Ajoung,(KCCA Summer team—Uganda) and Innocent Bashir from Galwary-Uganda.
Local-based players
David Duku Louis Peter Louis, Philip Sokka, Ajo Minari Alex, Rwede Maliah Ngoan, Felix Obama Mariel, Moshab Atim Ajak, Philip Awad Marc, Mario Taban Albano, Alberto James, and Lazarus On the list of athletes that Future Stars Academy has called in are Peter George, Ajongo Uber Domasio Unguec, Godfrey Geri Akualino Wani, Philip Baraka James, and Ronaldo Daniel Nimeri (all from Future Stars; Nasona Victor Elia, (Al Amal Academy of Juba, Amos Moses Mondes Kanzolo (Citizen Academy-Juba), Joshua Bibi (Yambio Stars), Yohana Wani Daniel (Al Amal Academy—Juba), Amule Kim Batali Lemi (Young Legend Academy-Juba), Abraham Okeny Wilson Langoya from Citizen Academy-Juba and Gbindiva Victor Willison (Rock City Academy-Juba)
