Angola Hold Off South Sudan to Stay Unbeaten

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(SOUTHERN NAMIBE, ANGOLA) – South Sudan narrowly lost to hosts Angola 66-64 on Saturday evening, ending their direct path to the AfroBasket 2025 quarterfinals and pushing them into the Classification Round. The game was played at the Welwitschia Mirabilis Arena in Moçâmedes, where a packed local crowd backed Angola to their third consecutive win.

The match was fiercely contested, with South Sudan showing early determination. They began the game strongly, rushing to a 7-0 lead within the first minute. However, Angola quickly turned the tables with a 12-0 run and never trailed again. By halftime, South Sudan was down 37-27, their lowest first half scoring performance in the tournament.

The Bright Stars had earlier scored 38 points against Guinea and 61 against Libya in the opening halves of those games. This time, however, they found Angola’s defensive pressure difficult to overcome. Although Angola led by as many as 16 points, South Sudan fought back, outscoring the hosts 22-11 in the last quarter. With 14 seconds remaining, they had a final chance to steal victory, but Both Tut Gach’s three point attempt missed the target, sealing Angola’s win.

The difference from their last major meeting was stark. In the 2023 FIBA World Cup, South Sudan had defeated Angola 101-78. This time, however, Angola’s tactical adjustments and home advantage carried them through.

A key factor was Childe Dundao, Angola’s shortest player at 1.67 metres (5 feet 5 inches), who proved decisive. He scored all 12 of his points from three-point range, delivered eight assists, and forced five steals, energising his side throughout. Aboubacar Gakou also contributed crucial points with accurate shooting.

South Sudan, on the other hand, relied heavily on free throws, making 21 compared to just 19 field goals. Turnovers were costly, with the team losing possession 20 times, compared to Angola’s 12. Nuni Omot was the only South Sudanese player to score in double figures, finishing with 12 points.

The loss means South Sudan, who remain ranked first in Africa, must now face Senegal on Monday in the Classification Round to secure a quarterfinal spot. Angola, meanwhile, move directly to the Last Eight, awaiting their next opponent after a four day break in Luanda.

The packed arena in Moçâmedes played its part, with fans singing and cheering for Angola from start to finish. Their energy seemed to fuel the eleven time African champions, who managed to control the tempo of the game after their early comeback.

Speaking after the match, South Sudan small forward Majok Deng admitted Angola’s strength on the night.

“Credit to Angola. They played a great game and were the better team tonight. We have to be more physical, too. I don’t think we matched their energy, but give them credit. We are going to bounce back in the next game.”

Angola’s head coach, Pepe Claros, praised his team’s effort.

“We played against the Number One team in Africa and we showed that we have a lot of heart; we showed that we can compete against them. I am happy to go directly to the quarterfinals. South Sudan, Senegal and Guinea will have tough matches in the qualifying round; this is very important for us because one of them will for sure be out.”