Bright Starlets eliminated from Olympic qualifiers after late Madagascar defeat

Author: John Akot Deng | Published: 53 minutes ago

The Bright Starlets battle Madagascar during their Olympic qualifying campaign at Juba National Stadium. – Courtesy Photo

South Sudan’s Bright Starlets have been eliminated from the CAF Women’s Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Qualifiers after losing 1-0 to Madagascar in the second leg of their first-round tie.

Madagascar secured the win through a stoppage-time goal scored by Julie Solonilaina in the 90+2nd minute, advancing to the next round with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the tie evenly balanced ahead of the return match. However, Madagascar made use of their home advantage and scored late to seal qualification.

Speaking to journalists after the match, the Madagascar head coach praised the Bright Starlets, describing them as a talented and energetic team.

“South Sudan has a very good team that competes with great energy and possesses massive talent. This was our first time playing against them, and they showed a lot of quality,” the coach said.

Madagascar will now face South Africa in the next round as they continue their campaign for a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Despite the defeat, the Bright Starlets received praise for their performance over the two-legged tie, underlining the growing potential of women’s football in South Sudan.