South Sudan’s Women’s National Basketball Team pulled off another stunning upset on Thursday, edging past Uganda 69–68 in the dying seconds to secure a spot in the semifinals of the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket 2025 qualifiers.
With only 38 seconds left and Uganda up by one, Akon drew a crucial foul and stepped to the line with the game on the line. Unshaken, she buried both free throws, sealing a thrilling comeback win for South Sudan.
The win follows a dramatic turnaround in their campaign. After dropping their first two games, the resilient South Sudanese side shocked Egypt 75-65 in the group stage to stay alive, and now they’ve eliminated Uganda in a tense quarterfinal showdown.
South Sudan capitalized on a key turnover and held their nerve at the free-throw line to seal the victory. The bench erupted as the final buzzer confirmed a semifinal berth for the first time in the team’s history.
“It’s not just a win, it’s a statement,” said head coach David Makuach. “These women are rewriting the story of South Sudanese basketball.”
The team now prepares for a semifinal clash against one of the tournament’s top seeds. Win or lose, their historic run has already made waves across the continent.
