Fact-check: Did South Sudanese fans destroy seats in the Juba National Stadium?

The images showing broken chairs are those of Al-Hilal Stadium in Sudan during a match played between South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Writer: Ghai Aketch

No, the CECAFA Under-20 match between South Sudan and Uganda wasn’t played in Juba, but in Sudan’s Al-Hilal Football Stadium at Omdurman on November 11, 2022. It ended without any misconduct. 

However, after the South Sudan and Uganda U-20 match ended 2:1 in favour of Uganda, misleading information went viral on social media claiming that the furious South Sudan fans destroyed the stadium’s seats in Juba after the 2:1 loss to the Ugandan Crane. This is false.

According to the football governing body, CECAFA, the seats were broken after the final whistle when South Sudan won by 4:2 penalty shoot-out against Ethiopia on November 8 at Al-Hilal Stadium, Sudan. But, out of excitement the spectators broke chairs, damaged the barriers and stormed the pitch.

Subsequently, the CECAFA disciplinary committee, after learning of the acts, fined South Sudan $1,000 US dollars and to also repair the damaged parts of the facility.

The Juba Nationality Stadium seats were not destroyed by the agitated spectators after the South Sudan national team Bright Stars’ U-20 2:1 loss to the Uganda Crane team. Moreover, the match was played in Khartoum, Sudan. 

Additionally, the Juba National Stadium is not yet inaugurated to host regional matches due to the ongoing construction.

Therefore, the images showing broken chairs are those of Al-Hilal Stadium in Sudan, where the match was played.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that South Sudanese football fans destroyed seats in the new Juba National Stadium after a home team loss to Uganda false.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.