The Picture: Redefining A Nation’s Narrative

Underneath the surface of South Sudan lies the dream of its children to create a different narrative about the young nation, one that challenges the perception of South Sudan as merely a war-torn or impoverished nation. Instead, they seek to tell a story of ambition, determination, and success.

In this picture, every face radiates pure joy and pride, with the flags waving high as a sign of victory, reflecting South Sudan women’s basketball team’s magical performance in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. Competing in Zone 5, the team secured a remarkable victory against Kenya for the second time, winning 80-63 on 8 February 2025 at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt.

The Bright Starlets made their international debut in 2021, playing in Zone 5 against Egypt during the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda. Their journey took a historic turn in February 2023, when they secured their first international win, defeating Rwanda by 14 points during the Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda.

AfroBasket is Africa’s premier basketball championship, organised by FIBA Africa, the continent’s governing body for basketball. The tournament is held biennially, featuring national teams from across Africa competing for the continental title. It also serves as a qualifying event for global competitions such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympic Games. The women’s edition, known as the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, follows a similar structure, with top female national teams vying for the championship. The most recent tournament took place in 2023, with Nigeria claiming the title.

The Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers 2025 featured teams from South Sudan, Egypt, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya. The South Sudan team, led by captain Adut Bulgak, alongside key players such as Nyaduoth Lok, Nyanuar Pal, Perina Leime, Nyamuoch Teny, Nyagoa Gony, Rachel Puok, Susana Muorabol, Christina Deng, and Jennifer Oduho, brought invaluable experience from both domestic and international competitions. The team won three out of five matches.

Captain Adut Bulgak, who previously played for Florida State University and was drafted by the New York Liberty in the 2016 WNBA Draft, has competed professionally in Spain, France, and other countries, provides leadership and brings international exposure to the squad. ‘It’s an incredible feeling. I’m so proud of this team and how far we’ve come. This journey has been special, and the best part is knowing there’s still so much more we can build on. We’re eager to see what the future holds, said Nyamuoch Teny after the win. 

Despite not qualifying for the next round of AfroBasket and missing out on the opportunity to compete in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the team made a significant impact. Their commendable performance led to a 15-spot rise in the world rankings, a remarkable achievement for such a young team. For the people of South Sudan, basketball is more than just a sport, it is a symbol of national pride and a gateway to global recognition. It is where their identity and passion unite, as they stand by their players through victories and defeats alike.

Many South Sudanese athletes have excelled in basketball on the international stage. South Sudan’s men’s basketball team, the Bright Stars, stunned the world with their historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which was South Sudan’s first Olympics games. South Sudan achieved its first Olympic basketball victory when it beat Puerto Rico 90-79 on 28 July 2024. At the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, the Bright Stars dominated four victories out of six matches, including the most recent against DR Congo with an impressive 82-57 on 23 February 2025, qualifying for the FIBA AfroBasket 2025, the 31st edition of FIBA AfroBasket, a continental men’s basketball championship in Africa, taking place from 12 to 24 August 2024 in three cities: Benguela, Luanda and Namibe in Angola.

Both of South Sudan’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are bringing their talents home, playing for their nation and inspiring future generations.