By David Gold
May 29 – South Sudan has been confirmed as a member of FIFA with near unanimous support from member of world football’s governing body.
They are the 209th member of FIFA after 98 per cent voted to admit them at the Annual Congress in Budapest.
Earlier this year South Sudan became the 54th member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
South Sudan was formed following the conclusion of a bloody civil war, as they declared independence last July.
They were also the beneficiaries of a change in FIFA membership rules.
Membership was previously reserved for states who are members of their regional confederation for at least two years.
South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President Oliver Mori Benjamin said: “I want to assure you that we are going to follow the statutes and regulations of FIFA and obey the law of our good game.
“In particular, we are still suffering from war, so we promise that we will develop football to fight against war, hunger and poverty.
“I want to assure you that in my state in South Sudan, Abyei, we are still in a war zone but I promise in a few days, we are going to raise the flag of FIFA in Abyei for the good of our people.”
The new nation’s first international appearance will be during the Central and East Confederation of African Football (CECAFA) competition in Nairobi, Kenya, this July.
Salam Football Club will represent South Sudan at the competition.
South Sudan will also be able to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018, as well as the 2015 African Nations Cup.
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