Upon arrival in Benghazi at 10:12 AM, the players anticipated meeting a representative from the Sudan Football Association (SFA) to help facilitate their entry into Libya.
The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Sudan Football Association after a series of troubling events involving South Sudan’s national team, the Bright Stars. These incidents occurred during the team’s recent travels from Cairo, Egypt to Benghazi, Libya, where they encountered severe delays and lack of support that have left the players physically and mentally distressed.
The team embarked on their journey from Cairo at 8:00 AM, expecting a smooth transition to Libya. Upon arrival in Benghazi at 10:12 AM, the players anticipated meeting a representative from the Sudan Football Association (SFA) to help facilitate their entry into Libya. However, their expectations were quickly dashed as no representative appeared to assist them. This led to the team being stranded at the airport for a staggering three hours, during which the Libyan migration authorities seized their passports due to the absence of the necessary coordinators.
The situation took a further toll when, after a prolonged wait and uncertainty, the team was allowed to exit the airport without their passports, which remained in the hands of migration officials as a form of guarantee. The lack of coordination and failure of the Sudan Football Association to fulfill its obligations has been described by the SSFA as deeply disappointing and unacceptable.
This unfortunate situation not only caused significant emotional and physical distress to the players but has also sparked concerns over the treatment of South Sudan’s national team. The players, now suffering from illness, exhaustion and mental fatigue, have been left to reflect on what the SSFA deems as an unacceptable lack of respect and support from the Sudan Football Association.
In light of these events, the South Sudan Football Association has called for intervention from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), urging the international bodies to hold the Sudan Football Association accountable. The SSFA has stressed the importance of upholding the commitments between football associations, particularly when it comes to the well-being of the players who represent their nations on the international stage.
“We hope that moving forward, the Sudan Football Association will recognize the importance of communication and cooperation,” the SSFA statement read. “It is crucial that incidents like this are not repeated in the future to ensure the safety and dignity of all players involved.”