South Sudan Celebrates First Olympic Win

South Sudan beat Puerto Rico 90-79 in the Paris 2024 Olympics on 28 July 2024, the first Olympic basketball victory for South Sudan, which is playing in its first Olympics games after qualifying as Africa’s top finisher in last year’s World Cup. 

It was the Brights Stars’ Carlik Jones who carried South Sudan to the historic first win scoring 19 points. Marial Shayok added 15 points for South Sudan.

Puerto Rico led throughout the first half of the Group C matchup but was disrupted late in the second quarter after top scorer Jose Alvarado left late with an apparent sprained ankle. He returned early in the third quarter and finished with 26 points and five assists. Tremont Waters added 18 points.

But South Sudan took control down the stretch, building as much as a 13-point lead with just over three minutes to play.

But South Sudan took control down the stretch, building as much as a 13-point lead with just over three minutes to play.

However, South Sudan took control, scoring as much as a 13-point lead with just over three minutes to play.

But South Sudan took control, scoring as much as 13-point lead with just over three minutes to play.

However, South Sudan’s opening Olympic basketball match began with dismay by an embarrassing anthem blunder by organisers. The wrong anthem was played, which is believed to be the anthem of its neighbouring country, Sudan. The mistake was swiftly rectified and the correct anthem was played.

South Sudan will next meet the US on 31 July 2024, which is much-anticipated. On 20 July 2024, South Sudan almost broke history in a pre-game against the US. The US came from 16 points down to avoid one of the biggest shocks in basketball history in a dramatic 101-100 victory over South Sudan at the USA Basketball Showcase in London’s O2 Arena. 

LeBron James saved the US from what would have been a stunning loss, scoring 25 points, including the game-winning basket in the final seconds as Team USA rallies from 16 down. 

Many took to social media to celebrate historic win.

Related posts:

http://500wordsmag.com/sudan-news/south-sudan-almost-broke-history-in-pre-game-against-the-us-ahead-of-paris-2024-olympics/