UEFA Trained Anna Nyakuet Taker Vies for Top Football Post in South Sudan

(JUBA) – For the first time in the history of the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF), a woman is contesting for the position of Second Vice President, a development seen by many as a significant step toward inclusion and reform in the country’s sporting leadership.

Anna Nyakuet Taker, a respected sports administrator and advocate for gender equality, is the only female candidate in the race, marking a potentially historic moment for South Sudanese football.

Anna brings with her a solid track record of service and innovation. She has served on the SSFF Board of Directors for four years, chairing the Finance Committee, where she contributed to strengthening financial accountability and strategic planning within the federation.

Her leadership has extended beyond domestic borders. In 2022, she was selected to attend the prestigious UEFA/FIFA Women in Football Leadership Programme in Geneva, Switzerland.

The programme, themed “Developing Leaders, Transforming Organizations, Contributing to Society,” was designed to equip women with tools to lead transformation in sports.

Her international training enhanced her leadership credentials and reinforced her commitment to grassroots development and inclusive football governance.

Following her participation in the programme, FIFA appointed her as the national coordinator for a pilot initiative on Menstrual Health Management, aimed at supporting the wellbeing and dignity of young female athletes in South Sudan. This initiative marked a pioneering moment, merging sport with broader public health and education priorities.

Anna’s candidacy for the Second Vice President role is widely regarded as a symbol of progress in a male dominated sporting arena. Many sports observers already believe her experience in both financial governance and community development makes her a strong contender.

Football remains one of the most unifying elements in South Sudan’s social fabric, cutting across ethnic and political divides. Gender inclusion could cement the sport’s role in promoting peace, social cohesion and youth empowerment.