South Sudan Blind Football named among finalists for global inclusion award

Author: John Akot | Published: 2 hours ago

South Sudan Football Blind celebrates the nomination to third finalists.
Photo: SSBF

South Sudan Blind Football has been named among the three finalists for the Eli Wolff Football Without Limits Award.

The award, presented by Integrated Dreams under the World Football Summit, will be handed out in Madrid, Spain, on September 15, 2026.

The nomination is a major milestone for South Sudan Blind Football, which has grown from a small initiative involving just two players training under a tree with a borrowed ball into a national movement.

The program now has five blind football teams and about 50 players competing in the 2026 South Sudan Blind Football League in Juba.

South Sudan Blind Football says the recognition highlights its efforts to promote inclusion and create opportunities for people with visual impairments through sport.

The association says its journey shows that disability should not be a barrier to participation, dignity, sport or the pursuit of dreams.

From two players training under a tree to becoming African champions and now reaching the final three of a global award, the team says its story demonstrates how major achievements can begin with small steps.

It hopes the recognition will inspire young people and people with disabilities in South Sudan and beyond to believe in what is possible.

The World Football Summit was launched in Madrid in 2016 as football was undergoing rapid change.

The summit was created as a platform for the wider football industry to come together, exchange ideas and discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the game across sectors, interests and regions.

For South Sudan Blind Football, the latest recognition places its journey on an international stage while highlighting the growing role of sport in advancing inclusion and opportunity.