At just 28, Anna Nyakuet is charting a bold new course for football leadership in South Sudan, one that confronts stigma, restructures broken systems, and puts girls and women at the heart of the game.
Now contesting for Second Vice President of the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF), Nyakuet’s campaign is about more than just winning a seat.
“This isn’t just about winning a seat,” she told SZN journalist Bullen Bala. “It’s about removing the barriers that keep girls off the pitch and out of leadership. I want to prove that football leadership has no gender.”
It’s about dismantling the barriers that keep girls off the pitch and out of the boardroom, and proving that leadership has no gender.
A former netball star and now a seasoned football administrator, Nyakuet’s journey from the courts to the corridors of football power is grounded in grit, vision, and lived experience.
Her story resonates with girls across South Sudan, especially those whose parents still believe football isn’t meant for daughters.
“Girls need a leader they can relate to. There are conversations we can have woman to woman that can’t always happen with male coaches or officials. I want to build a space where girls feel football belongs to them too,” she emphasized.
Nyakuet’s vision begins with governance: streamlining SSFF’s internal operations to ensure every department knows its job, and delivers. For her, order is not just a managerial goal—it’s a foundation for footballing excellence.
“If elected, my first 100 days will focus on building a functional, accountable administration. Right now, there’s too much role overlap, too much disorder. People cross into responsibilities that aren’t theirs. That has to stop,” she said.
But governance alone won’t transform the game.
Nyakuet is also determined to strengthen grassroots football, with a focus on developing youth academies and ensuring talent is nurtured at community level.
She wants every region, from rural counties to urban centers, to feel the reach and support of the national federation.
She believes that youth academies, especially those in under-resourced regions, are the foundation for long-term football growth.
“These academies are where our future national stars come from. We can’t expect to grow as a footballing nation if we neglect where it all begins,” she said.
At the core of her campaign, however, is women’s football—a space she has worked to grow both at the local and international level.
From leading women’s programs at Upper Nile Sports Academy to serving as FIFA’s national coordinator for its 2022 Menstrual Health Management Pilot Project, Nyakue has been a consistent advocate for girls in sport.
Over the last four years, Nyakuet has risen through the ranks of SSFF, serving as a member of the Executive Committee, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, and formerly Deputy Chairperson of the Medical Committee.
Her administrative experience is deep, but her vision goes beyond titles.
She’s challenging deeply held cultural norms that continue to exclude girls from the game, especially in conservative communities where football is still seen as “unfit” for women.
“We can’t grow as a football nation while leaving half the population behind. Football should be for anyone with passion, not just those society approves,” she said.
Another of her key priorities is media visibility, ensuring SSFF programs, competitions, and development work are consistently documented and shared.
She wants to create a strong communications team within the federation to work closely with local and international journalists.
“If people don’t see what’s happening, they assume nothing is,” she said.
“Visibility drives support, builds trust, and inspires the next generation.”
From schoolgirl scholarships in netball to executive committee rooms in Juba, Anna Nyakuet’s journey is not just a personal rise—it’s a rallying cry for transformation.
With clear plans, unmatched energy, and a deep belief in football’s power to unite and uplift, Nyakuet’s candidacy isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about building a future where South Sudanese girls never have to ask for permission to play.
