São Paulo – The International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) announced on Friday (25) that South Sudan is the institution’s newest member. The country, which is now the 209th member of the football federation, was accepted by 98% of Fifa delegates at an election at the institution’s annual congress, in Budapest, Hungary.
In a press statement, Fifa stated that South Sudan was benefitted by reforms promoted by the institution allowing a country to be accepted as a member even without complying with the two years for approval of new members.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July 2011. Little before, in February, the country had become a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Since then, the country has become a candidate to participate in the Fifa, if complying with the waiting period.
South Sudan may, now, dispute the qualifying rounds for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, to take place in Morocco, and for the 2018 World Cup, in Russia.
*Translated by Mark Ament
