DAKAR (Senegal) - South Sudan opened their AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers campaign with an 82-66 win over Morocco on Friday at Dakar Arena.
It was South Sudan's sixth straight win in Africa, dating back to August 2022.
Kevin Franceschi scored the first points of Window 2 of the AfroBasket Qualifiers with a three-pointer before Morocco extended their lead to 5-0.
Junior Madut minimised South Sudan's damage, scoring the Bright Stars' first two points in the qualifiers with a drive to the basket.
Khalid Boukichou and Franceschi caused all sorts of troubles for South Sudan in the first half with the former contributing 9 and the latter leading all scorers with 12 points.
TURNING POINT: Atem Kuany Kuany gave South Sudan their first lead (30-29) late in the second quarter.
South Sudan re-strategised in the second quarter, forcing Morocco out of their comfort zone before they headed to the locker room with a 36-34 lead.
HERO: Despite his foul trouble in the second quarter, Nuni Omot returned in the third quarter with a basketball clinic, hitting shot after shot to finish with 17 points. Junior Madut proved equally crucial for the East Africans, contributing 15 points.
STATS DON'T LIE: What goes around comes around. That was the second half's main takeaway from this game after Morocco punished South Sudan's defense with four three-pointers in the first half, but were unable to protect their perimeter in the second, allowing 10 triples.
BOTTOM LINE: On February 26, 2023 South Sudan trounced hosts Egypt 97-77 in Alexandria to close their World Cup African Qualifiers with a remarkable 11-1 record, and on Friday, November 22, in Dakar, the Bright Stars overcame Morocco 82-66 to remind everyone who the No.1 team on the continent is.
It took South Sudan some time to adjust to Morocco's fast-paced style of play in the first half.
But, when Luol Deng - who returned to his head coaching role due to Royale Ivey's unavailability - ordered a more aggressive defense, Morocco couldn't cope with the South Sudanese's physicality in the paint.
Morocco and South Sudan return to their Group A action on Saturday with the former taking on DR Congo in a 2023 FIBA AfroCan Semi-Final rematch, while South Sudan will go up against Mali.
FIBA