South Sudan, making their debut at the FIBA World Cup, emerged as underdogs and captured the hearts of many with a resounding victory over Angola, clinching their ticket to the Olympics with a score of 101-78. The confirmation of their Olympic qualification came with Egypt’s loss to New Zealand.
During the initial rounds, South Sudan garnered sympathy when they suffered an overtime loss to Egypt. They then defeated China but missed out on advancing to the second phase due to a loss to Serbia. They went on to outplay the Philippines, sealing their remarkable performance with a triumph over Angola.
Leading them to this victory was the MVP and top scorer of the last edition of the Development League, Carlik Jones. This time, he contributed 20 points, an impressive 15 assists, and grabbed seven rebounds. He was joined by Marial Shayok with 18 points, closely followed by Nuni Omot with 17. On the opposing side, Childe Dundao led the way with 18 points, while Silvio Sousa closed the game with 12 points.
South Sudan cruise past Angola to end their first World Cup campaign with a W and a ticket to the Olympics! π«#FIBAWC x #WinForSouthSudan πΈπΈ pic.twitter.com/8iccZiFal4
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 π (@FIBAWC) September 2, 2023
The confirmation of their Olympic qualification awaited South Sudan as they watched the suspenseful ending of the match between New Zealand and Egypt. Ultimately, the Oceania representative emerged victorious, a crucial outcome for Luol Deng, the pivotal figure in the South Sudan Basketball Federation.
New Zealand triumphed over Egypt in a dramatic finish with a score of 88-86. Despite Pere Cameron’s team having a 14-point lead at one point, the game was tied at 86-86 with 17 seconds left. The fate was sealed from the free-throw line, with Egypt missing their chance to celebrate despite having a game-winning opportunity they failed to convert.
Finn Delany and Izayah Le’Afa led the victorious squad with 27 points each. In Egypt, Ehab Amin and Amr El Gandy were the top scorers, each contributing 19 points.
In this manner, New Zealand concluded the FIBA World Cup with a 2-3 record, as did Egypt. However, the African team had reasons to be pleased, as they celebrated their first victory since 1994 with a win over Mexico and secured a second win against the Jordanian national team.
South Sudan’s journey from World Cup debutants to Olympic qualifiers is a remarkable achievement that has captivated the basketball world. Their performance at the global stage showcases the potential for growth and development of basketball in the country.