(ABIDJAN) – South Sudan made a memorable debut in the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament, narrowly losing to continental heavyweight Mali by 56 to 53 in a tightly contested group stage match. Although they fell short, South Sudan’s performance has drawn widespread admiration for their grit and determination against one of Africa’s top ranked teams.
Mali, the reigning bronze medallist from the 2023 edition held in Rwanda, came into the game as strong favourites. In contrast, South Sudan were participating in the tournament for the first time, having entered on a wildcard after missing out in the 2021 and 2023 qualifiers. Their youth teams have yet to participate at this level, underscoring the gap in experience between the two sides.
Despite the odds, South Sudan pushed the West African giants to the limit. University of Colorado forward Nyamer Lual Diew, who first represented the country in the 2021 Zone 5 qualifiers, made history by scoring South Sudan’s first ever points in the Women’s AfroBasket.
South Sudan trailed 19 to 15 at the end of the first quarter but displayed discipline and tactical awareness throughout. Mali appeared to take control early in the second quarter, extending the lead to 24 to 15, prompting South Sudan coach Alberto Antuna to call a timeout. That break proved crucial, as the team regrouped and launched a spirited comeback. Diew’s long-range shooting and a floating jump shot by Delicia Washington tied the game at 30 just before halftime.
Although Mali responded with a 9 to 2 run early in the third quarter, including three-pointers from Alima Dembele and Djeneba N’Diaye, South Sudan refused to back down. They reclaimed the lead at 41 to 39, keeping pressure on the more experienced team throughout the second half. In the final minutes, South Sudan missed key free throws that could have secured a famous victory or pushed the game into overtime.
Washington and Diew each scored 18 points, with the former also collecting 12 rebounds for a double-double. Diew came close to matching that feat, falling just two rebounds short. Their standout performances reflected the team’s overall fighting spirit and tactical growth.
Mali ultimately relied on their composure in critical moments and made better use of their squad depth. Dembele led Mali with 18 points, supported by N’Diaye’s 10. However, their three-point shooting was poor, converting just 5 out of 41 attempts, a figure that underscored their offensive struggles.
South Sudan had a more conservative shooting strategy, making 4 of their 21 long-range attempts. The real challenge came from turnovers. South Sudan committed 32 turnovers, allowing Mali to score 27 points directly from those errors. Additionally, Mali’s bench contributed 20 points, compared to only 5 from South Sudan.
| Key Statistics | Mali | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 56 | 53 |
| Three-Point Attempts (Made) | 41 (5) | 21 (4) |
| Turnovers | 15 | 32 |
| Points from Turnovers | 27 | 6 |
| Bench Points | 20 | 5 |
| Top Scorer | Alima Dembele – 18 pts | Washington/Diew – 18 pts each |
South Sudan’s performance has already made an impact on the continental stage. For a team without previous tournament experience and only just beginning to develop its women’s basketball programme, the narrow loss to a seasoned side like Mali is seen as a strong foundation to build upon.
Delicia Washington, South Sudan’s point guard, said after the game:
“We fought for 40 minutes but had some costly turnovers in clutch moments. We also missed a lot of shots we normally make, but we will focus on what we can control and try and come out on top next time.”
Mali forward Sira Thienou acknowledged the challenge posed by South Sudan.
“It was an ugly win but a win is a win. South Sudan are a good side and we expected this from them after watching their game films. We found a way to go past them. That’s one down, two to go in the group phase.”
Mali last won the AfroBasket title in 2007. While they began their 2025 campaign with a win, their narrow escape against South Sudan may serve as a warning sign. For South Sudan, the debut has already turned heads and raised expectations as they look ahead to their next group fixtures.
The 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament continues in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with South Sudan aiming to correct their opening game mistakes and pursue a place in the knockout stages.
