Bright Stars forward Majok Deng has assured fans of a stronger performance in the classification round on Monday, following South Sudan’s narrow loss to Angola in a closely contested game on Saturday.
Angola emerged victorious with a 66-64 win, securing the top spot in Group C and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Afrobasket tournament.
The defeat pushed the Bright Stars, Africa’s number one ranked team, to third place in the group, behind Guinea.
South Sudan will now face Senegal on Monday in a crucial match to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
This marks the Bright Stars’ second loss in the Afrobasket campaign, after a previous defeat to Guinea with a score of 88-80.
Nuni Omot was the top scorer for South Sudan, finishing the game with 12 points, while Angola’s Aboubacar Gakou led his team with impressive shooting statistics.
Despite the setback, Majok Deng commended Angola for their performance and expressed confidence in the Bright Stars’ ability to bounce back.
Deng stated, “Credit to Angola for their strong game. We need to match their energy and be more physical. We will come back stronger in the next game.”
The loss was disappointing for the home crowd of South Sudanese fans gathered at Nimra Talata Basketball Court, but they continued to show unwavering support for the national team, which has captured international attention during recent campaigns.
