Hayatou concludes visit to South Sudan

CAF President Issa Hayatou, accompanied by CAF 2nd Vice-president M. Almamy Kabele Camara as well as CAF Secretary General Hicham El Amrani, concluded a fruitful visit to Juba, South Sudan, from September 24th to 26th 2013. It was the very first time the CAF President visited the newest member of the African football family.

CAF had accepted the South Sudan Football Association as its 54th member during the CAF General Assembly that took place on February 10th 2012 in Libreville, Gabon, paving the way for FIFA’s acceptance of South Sudan in the world football family 3 months later in Budapest, Hungary.

This historical visit was aimed at evaluating the current state of South Sudanese football while identifying the key priorities needed to be tackled for the development of football in the world’s youngest country.

Shortly after its arrival, the CAF delegation was honored by the audience granted to them by His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, during which the CAF President highlighted the Confederation’s support to the South Sudan Football Association.

The CAF delegation was warmly welcomed as well by Her Excellency Nadia Arop Dud, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport as well as the President of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), M, Chabur Goc Alei.

Throughout the CAF delegation visit, the CAF President took the opportunity to attend a friendly match at the Juba Stadium, meet with officials of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, as well as list and discuss the current difficulties facing South Sudanese football with the Executive board of SSFA.

Upon conclusion of these consultations, the CAF President reiterated CAF’s commitment to assist SSFA in upgrading the football field of Juba Stadium, sending numerous CAF instructors to SSFA for providing know how in the technical areas of coaching refereeing and administration, as well as other actions to be further defined.

In an eventful 3 days-visit, the CAF President also laid the foundation stone of the future SSFA headquarters, paid a courtesy call to the Governor of Central Equatorial, and finally paid his respect to Dr John Garang de Mabior, the founding father of the nation, deceased in 2005.