El-Merriekh FC Juba. (Photo: Courtesy).

EL-Merriekh FC Juba made a historical qualification to the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary stages after beating Sudan’s Haiduob En—Nahud on 1:0 aggregate on Saturday.

They played out a goalless draw, but El-Merreikh eliminated the Sudanese side and proceeded to the next round after their 1-0 win in the first leg on August 19, 2023.

The club’s Secretary-General Kamal Awad said the team’s qualification to the next stage is historic since no South Sudan club has ever passed a continental preliminary round.

Mr. Awad however says the qualification is not their targeted achievement, and that his El-Merriekh must redouble their efforts to advance as far as it could take them.

“The most important thing is that El-Meriekh has qualified for the second round of the preliminary round after a work well done by the boys,” he said.

“The challenges remain the same as the issue of finances and stadium, Let me appreciate the efforts of the chairman of the club to make sure that today the game has been played.”

“He played a great role in making sure the name of the country should not be down, he made it because he believed that the boys had talent and they are capable of doing a great job.”

El-Merreik FC Juba will now face Angola’s Academica Petroleos Club Do Lobito (APC Lobito) in September.

This is the first in history for a South Sudanese team to pass the preliminary round in all CAF completions since independence.

EL-Merriekh FC Juba first participated in a continental tournament in 2018 when the team was drawn against the green Buffalos of Zambia.