(ABIDJAN) – South Sudan’s national women’s basketball team has made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament after a stunning 75–65 victory over Egypt. This marks South Sudan’s first ever win in a continental basketball competition since making their debut in the qualifiers in 2021.
The team, nicknamed the Bright Starlets, entered the tournament on a wild card and had already suffered two group stage defeats. But on this day, they staged one of the biggest upsets in the competition, defeating their FIBA Africa Zone 5 rivals in dramatic fashion.
Led by head coach Alberto Antuna, South Sudan overturned a 19 point deficit by delivering a decisive performance in the second half. In the third quarter alone, the Bright Starlets outscored Egypt 24–12, dramatically shifting the momentum of the match. The game turned in the final quarter when South Sudan went on an 11–3 run in the opening five minutes, taking control and never looking back.
Key to this turnaround was 22 year old Maria Teresa Gakdeng, who stepped up in the absence of teammate Adut Bulgak, who was sidelined early due to foul trouble. Gakdeng delivered an outstanding performance with 24 rebounds and 19 points, recording one of the most memorable double-doubles of the 2025 tournament. She played more than 38 minutes on the court and dominated both ends.
Delicia Washington added 17 points and nearly grabbed a double-double of her own, falling just one rebound short. Rose Macuei also contributed 17 points, shooting 70 percent from the field. Three pointers from Nyamer Lual Diew and Bulgak were crucial in keeping South Sudan within reach during the comeback.
By the end of the match, South Sudan had firmly outplayed their North African opponents. The Bright Starlets won the rebounding contest 66–30, scored 44 points in the paint compared to Egypt’s 28, and delivered 19 second-chance points. Their bench added 25 points, compared to Egypt’s 7. While Egypt opened strong with eight steals in the first half, they could not convert that into a decisive lead. Their shooting from beyond the arc crumbled, with only six successful shots from 31 attempts. South Sudan, by contrast, remained focused and efficient in the second half.
Turnovers remained a concern, with South Sudan committing 27 in total, including 19 in the first half. However, their control of the ball improved significantly after halftime, which proved key to their eventual success.
South Sudan’s victory was their first in four encounters against Egypt since entering AfroBasket qualifiers. In previous meetings, Egypt had emerged victorious each time. But this time, the Bright Starlets capitalised on every opportunity and executed their game plan under pressure.
Speaking after the match, Gakdeng said, “We were down by almost 20 points. We stepped up our defense, controlled Number 15 (Raneen Elgedawy), grabbed more rebounds, and pulled it through. No one expected this win, which is why it means so much to us.”
From the Egyptian side, players acknowledged their shortcomings. Asrar Bakr said, “We fought until the end. This is a young team, and some of the players are competing at this level for the first time. We are learning and moving on.”
Fellow Egyptian forward Hala Elshaarawy pointed to defensive failures in the third quarter. “We gave up so many offensive rebounds. One South Sudan player had twelve. That’s not okay,” she said, adding that the team needs to stay focused for the entire 40 minutes in future matches.
The win sends South Sudan to the last eight of the tournament and signals the rapid development of basketball in the young nation.
Rebounding Comparison
| Category | South Sudan | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Total Rebounds | 66 | 30 |
| Second-Chance Points | 19 | 7 |
| Points in the Paint | 44 | 28 |
| Bench Points | 25 | 7 |
