The action continues in Group B of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as South Sudan and Mauritania go head to head at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade on Tuesday.
Having suffered opening-day defeats, both sides will head into this one looking to pick up a morale-boosting result and get their campaign up and running.
Match preview
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South Sudan were no match for Senegal on Saturday evening as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the reigning African champions in their Group B curtain-raiser.
Aliou Cisse's men turned in a performance of the highest quality at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade as goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lamine Camara and a brace from Sadio Mane saw them claim all three points on home soil.
With Saturday's result, the Bright Stars have now lost each of their last four competitive matches, conceding 12 goals and scoring just twice since a 2-1 victory over Congo in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers back in March.
This poor run saw South Sudan's dreams of a first AFCON appearance come to another disappointing end as they finished rock-bottom in Group G after claiming just three points from their six qualifying games.
While Nicolas Dupuis's men will be looking to stop the rot and get their quest for a first World Cup appearance up and running, they will have to show their mettle against Mauritania who are unbeaten in their previous two encounters.
Both sides squared off over two legs in the World Cup qualifiers back in October 2015, with the Lions of Chinguetti claiming a 1-1 draw in Juba six days before claiming a comfortable 4-1 victory at Nouackchott's Stade Olympique.
Like Tuesday's hosts, Mauritania were denied a dream start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Congo DR last Wednesday.
Following a goalless first half at the Stade des Martyrs, Brentford's Yoane Wissa found the back of the net in the 62nd minute to edge the hosts in front before Theo Bongonda put the result beyond reach with an 81st-minute strike.
This was a first defeat in three competitive games for Amir Abdou's men, who secured two back-to-back victories over Sudan and Gabon respectively in their final two games of the AFCON qualifiers.
Having picked up 10 points from their six qualifying matches, Mauritania finished runners-up in Group I to secure a third consecutive AFCON appearance since missing out in 2017.
In their final outing of the year, the Lions of Chinguetti will be looking to pick up a morale-boosting victory before locking horns with Burkina Faso when the Africa Cup of Nations takes centre stage in January.
Team News
Despite their humbling defeat against Senegal, we expect Dupuis to name a similar starting XI, with Tito Okello, Valentino Yuel and Ajak Riak leading the South Sudan attack once again.
Jackson Dwang, Chol Daniel and former Wellington Phoenix man Manny Achol should retain their roles at the heart of the park, while Peter Maker Manyang and Wani Ivan Adebo should form the centre-back pairing once again.
Off the back of an injury-free game against Congo DR, we expect Mauritania to field an unchanged starting side on Tuesday.
Should that be the case, Khadim Diaw, Mohamed Dellahi Yali, Hassan Houbeib and Ibrahima Keita should form the defensive line once again, with Guingamp's Babacar Niasse starting in goal.
Bodda Mouhsine was handed his 25th senior cap for Mauritania last time out and the FC Nouadhibou man is in line retain his role in midfield, alongside 30-year-old Guessouma Fofana.
Up top, Pape Ibnou Ba should spearhead the Lions of Chinguetti's attack, forming the front two with Hemeya Tanjy, who has five goals in 35 international appearances since his debut in January 2018.
South Sudan possible starting lineup:
Mawith; Toha, Manyang, Adebo, Atendele; Dwang, Achol, Daniel; Okello, Yuel, Riak
Mauritania possible starting lineup:
Niasse; Diaw, Yali, Houbeib, Keita; Koita, Mousine, Fofana, Mahmoud; Ba, Tanjy
We say: South Sudan 0-1 Mauritania
South Sudan and Mauritania have both stumbled into the qualifiers and will head into Tuesday's game in search of a pick-me-up. The Bright Stars have lost their last four competitive matches and we see them struggling against Abdou's men, who have won three of their last five outings.
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