The South Sudan National Basketball men's team on Thursday qualified for the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket in Kigali Rwanda after beating Mali 69-65 at FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Monastir, Tunisia.
Although the team was caught in a difficult position at the break, trailing by 20 at some point, somehow they rose to lead by as many as seven points later in the game.
"For a team that came up short against continental powerhouse Nigeria less than 24 hours earlier, to be able to regroup and secure a win that keeps them second in the group with a 3-2 record with a game to play, that says volumes about the South Sudanese' growth as a team," FIBA reports.
Kuany Ngor Kuany, was the man to watch as he inspired South Sudan with a game-best 21 points, while Sadio Doucoure, Ibrahim Djambo, and Ibrahim Saounera combined for 37 Mali points.
With just one more game left in the Qualifiers, both South Sudan (3-2) and Mali (2-3) qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021.
Earlier in the day, Morocco beat Cape Verde 72-69.
For Group D leaders Nigeria, it was business as usual as they remained unbeaten in five games thanks to a 64-51 triumph over Rwanda.
Meanwhile, the second Group E game between Egypt and Uganda was called off due to health concerns.
According to FIBA: "The decision was taken after five members of the Uganda delegation tested positive to COVID-19 after arriving to Monastir, despite delegation members having provided earlier negative tests."