South Sudan crowned IBSA Africa champions

South Sudan were crowned champions of the first-ever IBSA Africa Blind Football Championship following a commanding 3–0 victory over hosts Uganda in the final held at Hams Stadium, Nakivubo.

The match began with a tightly contested first half, ending goalless as Uganda showcased impressive defensive discipline and tactical organization, an evident improvement from their opening fixture, where they had conceded three goals before halftime.

In the second half, Uganda adjusted their strategy, making several substitutions in anticipation of a potential penalty shootout. However, their plans unraveled when South Sudan were awarded a penalty midway through the half. Captain and tournament standout Martin Lodu calmly converted the spot kick in the 15th minute to break the deadlock.

Uganda responded with aggressive forward play in search of an equalizer, but their offensive push left gaps at the back. South Sudan capitalized swiftly—Yona Sabri doubled the lead just two minutes later, and Lodu returned to seal the win with his second goal of the match and third of the tournament, all scored against Uganda.

Despite the loss, Uganda head coach Ali Zinda remained optimistic about his team’s development. “Yes, we conceded the same number of goals, but this time it was in the second half. The boys followed instructions well early on, but fatigue caught up with them. We’re going to work on their fitness,” he said.

For South Sudan, the victory marked a fairytale ending to their debut continental campaign. “We’re extremely happy—it’s our first time playing on the continent and we’ve won. Now our focus is on the world stage and qualifying for the Paralympics,” said captain Martin Lodu.

South Sudan finished the three-day tournament unbeaten and swept all individual honours:

🧤 Best Goalkeeper: Charles Bepo (three clean sheets)

🎯 Top Scorer: Yona Sabri (five goals)

 🏅 Most Valuable Player: Martin Lodu

Both South Sudan and Uganda secured qualification for the IBSA Division II Championship, a crucial stepping stone toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.

Driss El Mountaqi, a representative of the International Blind Sports Association from Morocco, cautioned the winners about the challenges ahead. “Africa has quality and tactical abilities to compete, but you need to improve your preparations,” he advised.

Patrick Synole, administrative secretary of the Uganda National Paralympic Committee, hailed the event as a landmark achievement. “Hosting this championship for the first time in Africa is a big milestone. It’s a great step in promoting team para sports in Uganda,” he said. Synole emphasized the committee’s commitment to continued growth: “Blind football is just one of the 23 para-sport disciplines we support, and we’ll keep empowering our athletes to excel on the global stage.”