Bright Stars’ tray full as AFCON qualifiers knock

South Sudan’s Bright Stars are in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, for preparation for the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers (AFCONQ).

The team arrived in the host country on Thursday last week for intensive before playing Malawi on Monday, March 22. They will then proceed and play Burkina Faso on March 30 to wrap up their two campaigns.

“Bright Stars has landed safely in Khartoum International Airport,” the SSFA tweeted on Thursday.

The Bright Stars has engaged in friendly matches prior to travelling to Sudan for AFCONQ in which it lost in all occasions.

On March 13, the team lost to Kenya’s Harambee Stars 1-0 three days after arriving in the country’s capital Nairobi on March 9, 2021, and later lost 1-2 to Wazito FC-a Kenya premier league side.

After playing the Kenyan national team, Bright Stars were forced to cancel a friendly match with Kenyan giants Gor Mahia over allegations of wrangles within the inner circle of the club.

It was after cancellation that South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) revealed on Wednesday afternoon that Bright Stars would now play Wazito FC to wrap up preparations for the AFCON qualifiers against Malawi in Khartoum.

SSFA tweeted: ‘‘The Friendly match between Bright Star and Gor Mahia has been canceled due internal problem within Gor Mahia. However, South Sudan will take on Wazito FC today to finalize its preparations before traveling to Khartoum for AFCONQ match against Malawi.’’

K’Ogalo, which Tito Okello plays for have lost five matches consecutively amid match-fixing allegations. Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier and the club secretary-general Sam Ochola revealed that there was an investigation going on.

“We’ve had allegations of match-fixing going on in the club and we are treating the issue with the seriousness that it deserves. Investigations are on and we will get to know what’s there,” Rachier told Kenyan media outlet Citizen Digital.