Arop
Al-Wadi: Arop Jongchol
Tomorrow, Thursday, August 21, the second edition of the South Sudan Premier League for the 2025–2026 season will kick off. The new leadership of the Football Association is aiming to raise the level of competition in the country’s biggest tournament.
This season will see the participation of 14 clubs, the same number as last season. The championship still lacks representatives from the Rajah, Abyei, Nasir, Melut, Malakal, and Kwajok football associations, as they also did not take part in the first edition. Defending champions Jamus Juba enter the tournament unbeaten, while also representing the country in the CAF Champions League. Meanwhile, Al-Merreikh Bentiu heads into the competition with high morale after winning the Super Cup for the first time and qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup.
The opening match of the first round will be played tomorrow, with defending champions Jamus Juba facing newcomers Ghazala Wau at 3:00 PM at Juba National Stadium. The rest of the matches will continue on Friday, with last season’s runners-up Kator hosting the newly promoted Atlabara in a Juba derby at 1:00 PM at Juba National Stadium. Later, 12th-placed Lion Hunters Yei will visit last season’s third-place Al-Merreikh Bentiu, also at Juba National Stadium.
The excitement continues on Saturday, with last season’s fourth-place Holy Family Rumbek meeting 11th-place Bentiu City at 1:00 PM at Juba National Stadium. At 4:00 PM, last season’s fifth-place Koryom Bor will take on 10th-place Olympic Renk.
The first round concludes with strong clashes on Sunday, August 24. Sixth-placed Malakia Juba will face ninth-placed Hilal Wau at 1:00 PM. Later at 4:00 PM, seventh-placed Wajuma will meet fellow Aweil club Salaam, eighth in last season’s table, in a big Aweil derby at Juba National Stadium.
Fans of the Premier League are eagerly awaiting the start of this season, filled with new sporting and marketing ambitions. Hopes are high that the stadium will soon be equipped with floodlights to allow matches to be played at night under the spotlight. Clubs will battle fiercely—some aiming for the top, while others strive to prove themselves in their debut appearance.
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