South Sudan Exit AfroBasket After Quarterfinal Defeat to Senegal

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(LUANDA, ANGOLA) – South Sudan’s AfroBasket journey came to an end on Monday night after a 78–65 quarterfinal defeat to Senegal at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda.

The game was billed as a clash of giants, with South Sudan and Senegal standing as two of the tallest teams on the continent. Fans anticipated a close contest, but Senegal took early control with disciplined defence and sharp offensive play, making it difficult for South Sudan to settle into their rhythm.

Senegal’s captain, Brancou Badio, led by example with a game high 31 points, ensuring that his team’s pursuit of the title remained alive. His teammates also played key roles, with Ibrahima Faye contributing 12 points and eight rebounds, while Jean Jacques Boissy added 10 points and seven rebounds.

For South Sudan, Both Gach was the top scorer with 14 points. Team captain Nuni Omot registered 13 points, and Majok Deng followed with 10 points. Despite their efforts, the Bright Stars could not close the gap after falling behind heavily in the first half.

The opening stages of the second quarter highlighted South Sudan’s struggle, as both teams combined for just seven points in a scrappy passage of play. By the halfway point of the quarter, Senegal were ahead 25–21. Coach DeSagana Diop’s substitutions then swung momentum fully in Senegal’s favour. Ibou Badji scored a key basket that launched a 7–0 run, which included an alley-oop dunk by Ibrahima Faye from a Boissy assist.

South Sudan called for a timeout in an attempt to slow Senegal’s pace, but the West African side pressed on. A dunk from Moustapha Faye and a Boissy free throw stretched the lead to 32–21. By halftime, Senegal had completed a 12–0 run to lead 46–25, a margin that proved too difficult for South Sudan to recover from.

Ibou Badji was a standout player, finishing with nine points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks, while showing dominance in the paint.

After the match, South Sudan’s head coach Luol Deng admitted that the team’s early struggles had cost them dearly. “We lost the game in the first half. I thought the guys regrouped in the second half, and I wish we had played like that the whole game. We hate to lose, but we are proud of the standards we set. This is good for African basketball because the level is getting higher,” he said.

Senegal’s Jean Jacques Boissy credited his team’s composure. “We just stayed poised the whole game. It is a game of momentum. They had their run, but we kept our heads held high, focusing on playing defence,” he explained.

South Sudan mounted a spirited comeback in the third quarter, with Omot and Gach leading an attack that saw the Bright Stars outscore Senegal 29–16. This reduced the deficit to 62–54 heading into the final quarter. However, Senegal regained control in the final minutes to seal their 13-point victory and advance to face Nigeria in the semi-finals.

South Sudan’s elimination brings their 2025 AfroBasket campaign to a close. The team has made rapid progress in African and global basketball in recent years, but will now have to regroup as it sets sights on future tournaments.