SSPL
EL Merriekh SC Bentiu defeat Al Ghazala to finish top of first round in South Sudan Premier League
EL Merriekh SC Bentiu have defeated Al Ghazala FC Wau 3-2 to finish top after the first round of the 2025/2026 South Sudan Premier League.
Coach Ibrahim Hussein’s side took a 3-1 lead at half time in a match played on Tuesday at the Juba National Stadium.
Ousmane Sampi, Keer Mangar Majak and Nelson Victor Elia were on target, while Al Ghazala FC Wau added one more goal in the second half.
The win sent EL Merriekh SC Bentiu to 34 points from 13 matches played and top of the log in the first round.
Coach Hussein has seen the team collect 11 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat and scored 42 goals. “We are happy to finish top of the table after the first round and we need to keep working hard because this is a League,” says the coach.
Kator FC are second on the log with 29 points from 12 matches played, while Jamus SC are third.
The South Sudan Premier League is sponsored by MTN South Sudan.
Forward Nelson Victor netted a late goal to earn El Merriekh SC Bentiu a 2-2 draw against Munuki FC in the opening match of the 2026/2027 South Sudan Premier League
Keer Mangar gave the reigning champions an early lead in a match played at the Buluk ground on August 22nd.
But Stephen Abe leveled matters for Munuki FC. Jose Kuch increased Munuki’s lead as they took a 2-1 half time lead.
After the interval El Merriekh SC Bentiu team made several raids in the Munuki FC goal mouth before eventually finding the equalizer.
The reigning champions will return to action against Super Stars FC on August 29th, and later focus on their CAF Champions League first Preliminary round match against Somalia’s Heegan FC.
SSPL
Munuki SC stand in El Merriekh SC Bentiu’s way in 2026/2027 South Sudan Premier League kick-off
The 2026/2027 South Sudan Premier League officially kicks off on August 22nd, 2026.
Defending champions El Merriekh SC Bentiu will take on new comers Munuki SC in the opening match at the Buluk playground. The Premier League fixtures were released by the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) on Tuesday.
After failing to win the Super Cup last week, the reigning champions will be all out to try and with a big win to send a strong message and start with good momentum.
Munuki SC earned promotion to the South Sudan Premier League in May this year after defeating El Maderia FC 2-0 in the play-off for qualification.
Head Coach Jean Claude Loboko has maintained that it will be good to make a positive start to the Premier League with a good result. “We had pre-season in Uganda and have played several matches already. Now is the time to concentrate on the Premier League as we also prepare for the CAF Champions League,” added Loboko.
El Merriekh SC Bentiu will take on another new comer Super Star FC in their second Premier League tie on August 29th.
El Merriekh SC Bentiu head coach Ibrahim Hussein has been voted best manager of the 2025/2026 South Sudan Premier League.
Hussein was awarded after the final match on Saturday at the Juba National Stadium. The calm tactician who has also handled teams in Sudan was recognized for his tactical acumen and leadership.
Other El Merriekh SC Bentiu players who received Awards include; Sampi Ousimane (Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Daniel Magot (Goalkeeper of the season).
The season’s outstanding players and coaches received Awards from the sponsors MTN South Sudan.
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