Angola Survive Late South Sudan Comeback in 66-64 Win

(MOCAMEDES, ANGOLA) – South Sudan’s national basketball team came close to upsetting hosts Angola but narrowly lost 66-64 in a tense AfroBasket 2025 Group C match on Saturday in Moçâmedes, Angola. The result allowed Angola to remain unbeaten and advance directly to the quarterfinals, while South Sudan dropped to third in the group and will now face Senegal in the Classification Round.

It was a match of sharp contrasts. South Sudan began with intensity, rushing to a 7-0 lead in the opening minute. However, the hosts responded with a 12-0 run that shifted momentum in their favour. From that point, Angola controlled the game and at one point extended their lead to 16 points. South Sudan made a remarkable late push in the final quarter, outscoring Angola 22-11, but fell just short.

The climax came in the last 14 seconds when coach Luol Deng called a timeout to organise a potential game winning play. Both Tut Gach took a decisive three point shot but missed, sealing South Sudan’s fate as the Angolan fans erupted in celebration at the Welwitschia Mirabilis Arena.

For South Sudan, the loss was a reminder of how far they have risen in recent years. Just two years earlier, at the 2023 World Cup, they had stunned Angola with a dominant 101-78 win. This time, however, Angola’s tough defensive play limited South Sudan to only 27 points in the first half, their lowest in the tournament so far.

Angola’s hero was point guard Childe Dundao, the shortest player on the court at 1.67 metres (5ft 5in). Despite his size, Dundao delivered a commanding performance, scoring 12 points from long range, providing a game-high eight assists, and leading in steals with five. Aboubacar Gakou also impressed, scoring efficiently with four of six shots converted, including three from beyond the arc.

South Sudan’s offensive struggles were clear in the statistics. They scored more from free throws (21) than field goals (19) and committed 20 turnovers compared to Angola’s 12. Nuni Omot was the only South Sudanese player to reach double figures, finishing with 12 points.

Still, South Sudan’s resilience stood out. Their comeback in the final minutes showed why they remain Africa’s top ranked team. Small forward Majok Deng acknowledged the defeat but promised improvement.

“Credit to Angola. They played a great game and were the better team tonight. We have to be more physical. We are going to bounce back in the next game.”

Meanwhile, Angola’s head coach Pepe Claros praised his side’s determination and recognised the challenge of facing Africa’s best team.

“We played against the Number One team in Africa and we showed that we have a lot of heart. Going directly to the quarterfinals is very important for us.”

The loss sets up a crucial clash for South Sudan against Senegal in the Classification Round on Monday. A win would keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals. Angola, on the other hand, will return to Luanda to prepare for their quarterfinal opponent, awaiting the outcome of the Classification Round.

South Sudan vs Angola Key Stats