S. Sudan appoints Congolese-Belgian coach Christian Nsengi-Biembe to lead Bright Stars

Author: Michael Daniel | Published: 7 hours ago

Photo Credit|Michael Daniel

The South Sudan Football Federation, SSFF, has appointed 63-year-old Congolese-Belgian coach Christian Nsengi-Biembe on a one-year contract worth 150-thousand US dollars.

The federation says the appointment is aimed at strengthening the Bright Stars and improving South Sudan’s chances of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

SSFF Secretary General Bak Athian Bak Madut says Nsengi-Biembe was selected because of his experience in African football and his record of developing young players.

He says the coach has been following South Sudan’s domestic league and players based abroad, which the federation believes will help him quickly understand the national team.

Under the contract, Nsengi-Biembe will also serve as a technical consultant for the Under-20 and Under-23 men’s national teams.

He will train local coaches through coaching-licence programmes and assist the federation in developing a clear playing identity for the national team.

Speaking after signing the contract, Nsengi-Biembe said he is ready to take on the challenge of building a strong identity for the Bright Stars.

He said South Sudan has talented players and promising young footballers, pledging to work hard with both the senior and youth national teams.

Nsengi-Biembe holds a UEFA Pro Licence, the highest level of coaching qualification in European football. He is known for tactical discipline, youth development and team resilience, with a preference for a dynamic 4-3-3 formation.

His appointment comes as South Sudan prepares for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.  The Bright Stars are in Group B alongside Egypt, Angola and Malawi.

The qualifiers are scheduled to run from September 2026 to March 2027.  South Sudan will face Malawi and Egypt in the September window before taking on Angola in November.

The Bright Stars will then face Malawi and Egypt in the final qualifying window in March 2027. The federation says qualifying for AFCON 2027 is its main target under the new coach.