Team Profile: South Sudan’s women’s basketball team is rising fast. After a historic first international win in 2023 and a new head coach, they now target the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers, aiming to join Africa’s elite.
Last Updated on
January 31, 2025
The South Sudan Women's National Basketball Team is making waves on the African basketball scene. While still in its early stages of development, the team has already demonstrated significant potential. In 2023, they made history by securing their first international victory, defeating Rwanda by 14 points at the Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers in Uganda. This milestone marked a turning point, fueling aspirations for greater success in the years to come.
Competing in Uganda, the South Sudanese team faced formidable opponents, finishing with a 1-4 record. They opened their campaign with a hard-fought 68-83 loss to Egypt, followed by a historic 54-40 win against Rwanda, marking their first international victory. However, they encountered tough competition in the subsequent games, falling to Uganda (53-74) and Kenya (51-80) in the group stage. In the third-place playoff, they faced Kenya again but struggled offensively, ultimately losing 30-64.
Despite the challenges, the team showed glimpses of its potential, particularly in the win over Rwanda. Key contributors included Nyamuoch Pidor Teny, who led the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game, alongside Adut Bulgak (10.3 ppg) and Rose Macuei (10.3 ppg).
On the boards, Bulgak dominated with 13 rebounds per game, followed closely by Macuei (11.7 RPG) and Perina James Leime (5.6 RPG). Bulgak also led in assists, averaging 3.0 per game.
The team's next challenge is the FIBA Women's AfroBasket Zone 5 Pre-Qualifiers, which will take place in Cairo from February 3-8, 2025. South Sudan will compete against Egypt, Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya, aiming to secure a historic berth at the Women's AfroBasket 2025.
South Sudan’s ambitions have been reinforced with the appointment of Alberto Antuña as the new head coach in December 2024. Antuña brings a wealth of experience, having previously coached Uganda to an 8th-place finish at AfroBasket 2023, their best-ever result, and having led Senegal in the Olympic Qualifiers.
“I am extremely grateful to Luol and the South Sudan Basketball Federation for trusting me with this exciting challenge,” said Antuña, via a press release.
“I’m joining a federation that has been doing things brilliantly in recent years, especially with the men’s national team. Now is the time to build the same legacy with the women's team. My vision is to create an identity, recruit the best South Sudanese players from around the world, and compete at the highest level to qualify for the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket”, continued Alberto Antuna.
The final 12-player roster for the Cairo pre-qualifiers is set to be announced by February 2, 2025.
The South Sudan Basketball Federation lists several key players on its official roster, including Nyaduoth Lok, Nyanuar Pal, Perina Leime, Nyamuoch Teny, Nyagoa Gony, Rachel Puok, Susana Muorabol, Christina Deng, and Jennifer Oduho. These athletes, alongside emerging talents from both domestic and international leagues, form the foundation of a squad brimming with potential.
Among the standout names, Adut Bulgak brings invaluable experience. The South Sudanese-born center played for Florida State University and was drafted by the New York Liberty in the 2016 WNBA Draft. She has played professionally in Spain, France, Israel, and other countries, bringing leadership and international exposure to the team.
The South Sudanese women’s team is still at the beginning of its journey, but its rapid development signals a bright future. They are poised to make history in the years ahead with growing talent, experienced leadership, and a commitment to excellence. As they prepare for the Zone V Pre-Qualifiers, all eyes will be on South Sudan, eager to witness the next chapter in their remarkable rise.
[Photo/Imagery : Adut Bulgak Facebook page, UCI Athletics, South Sudan Basketball Federation]
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