In recent years, South Sudan has achieved impressive firsts: a 7th-place finish at their AfroBasket debut in 2021, two victories over reigning African champions Tunisia, qualifying for the 2023 FIBA World Cup and NOW their first win in their debut Olympic Game.
Last Updated on
July 28, 2024
Jonathan Oriant
Staff Writer
In recent years, South Sudan, one of the world's youngest nation, has celebrated a series of historic firsts. During their inaugural appearance at the FIBA AfroBasket in 2021, they impressively finished in 7th place. They then won two crucial games against reigning African champions Tunisia in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, securing a spot in the 2023 FIBA World Cup held in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. South Sudan clinched one of the African tickets to the Olympics on their first attempt.
Entering the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille for their Olympic debut, all eyes were on South Sudan. They did not disappoint, exceeding the uneducated pundit's expectations with a 90-79 victory over Puerto Rico. This Group C opener was a sweet revenge for the South Sudanese, who had previously lost to Puerto Rico 101-96 in the FIBA World Cup.
In a high-energy contest, Puerto Rico initially surged ahead with a 28-20 lead in the first quarter. However, South Sudan responded quickly, closing the gap to six points by halftime. Despite trailing, they remained composed and focused on their game plan.
The third quarter saw South Sudan execute an impressive 11-0 run, only for Puerto Rico to return strong with George Conditt's performance in the paint. By the end of the third quarter, South Sudan led by a narrow margin of 71-69. The final quarter was thrilling, with South Sudan outscoring Puerto Rico 19-10, securing a 90-79 victory.
This historic win was a collective effort, with five South Sudanese players scoring in double digits. Carlik Jones led with 19 points, followed by Marial Shayok with 15 points. Nuni Omot scored South Sudan's first-ever Olympic points, and Bul Kuol each contributed 12 points, while Peter Jok added 11 points. Puerto Rico's top scorers were Jose Alvarado with 26 points, Tremont Waters with 18 points, and George Conditt IV with 13 points.
South Sudan's victory sends a clear message to the world: "Watch us." They now look to maintain this momentum against the USA in their next game on Wednesday. A win against the reigning Olympic champions would advance them to the Quarter-Finals, marking another historic milestone.
[Photography Courtesy of the South Sudan Basketball Federation & the 2024 Paris Olympics]
