Rwandese Amavubi overcame South Sudan at Amahoro Stadium but the 2-1 win wasn’t enough - Courtesy of KT PRESS (Rwanda)

South Sudan’s hopes of qualifying for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) were dashed on Saturday after a 2-1 loss to Rwanda at Amahoro Stadium.

Despite levelling the aggregate score at 4-4, South Sudan fell short due to the away goals rule.

South Sudan required a two-goal margin to progress but struggled to contain Rwanda’s Arsene Tuyiseng and Muhair Kevin, who scored for the Amavubi Stars.

David Sebet scored South Sudan’s lone goal, keeping their hopes alive, but it was not enough to overturn the aggregate situation.

The first leg, held on December 23 in Juba, saw South Sudan edge Rwanda 3-2.

However, the narrow win left them vulnerable in the return leg. As a result, neither team advanced to the next stage of the qualifiers.

Sudan emerged as the overall winners of the qualification round, securing their spot in the tournament with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Ethiopia.

The African Nations Championship showcases national teams composed exclusively of players competing in their domestic leagues.

The 2025 edition is scheduled to take place from February 1 to 28, hosted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Niger became the latest team to secure a spot in the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship following a goalless draw against Togo in their second-leg encounter on Friday

While South Sudan’s journey ends here, the campaign offered valuable lessons for the team as they aim to strengthen their domestic talent pool for future competitions.