(ABIDJAN) – South Sudan will face West African basketball powerhouse Mali for the second time in the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, this time with a place in the final at stake.
The highly anticipated semifinal rematch follows their dramatic group stage encounter, which Mali narrowly won 55–53.
South Sudan’s debut at the continental competition has already captured the attention of the basketball world. After qualifying on a wildcard and having failed in 2021 and 2023, the Bright Starlets have stunned observers with a string of impressive performances.
The team, coached by Alberto Antuna, defeated Egypt and Uganda on their way to the semifinals, marking a historic first appearance in the last four of the tournament.
Their journey, however, began with that narrow defeat to Mali, a match that offered a glimpse of their potential. In that game, South Sudan pushed the bronze medallists from 2023 to the limit. Despite trailing early, they tied the game by halftime and briefly took the lead in the third quarter, only to fall short in the final moments due to missed free throws and costly turnovers.
Delicia Washington and Nyamer Lual Diew both stood out, scoring 18 points each. Washington added 12 rebounds, earning a double-double, while Diew came just short of the same feat with 8 rebounds. On the Malian side, Alima Dembele also scored 18, and Djeneba N’Diaye added 10 points, with the team capitalising on South Sudan’s 32 turnovers to secure the win.
Since that opening game, Mali have found their rhythm, convincingly defeating Cameroon 75–49 and Mozambique 86–68 to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2021. Mali’s star forward, WNBA talent Sika Koné, has averaged an efficiency rating of 17, while South Sudan’s Maria Teresa Gakdeng leads her team with an 18.8 rating.
| Key Statistics | Mali | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 72 | 65 |
| Assists per game | 21.7 | 12 |
| Field goal % | 41.3% | 38.3% |
| Rebounds per game | 46.7 | 51 |
| Turnovers per game (Group Match) | 17 | 32 |
| Efficiency Leader | Sika Koné (17) | Maria Gakdeng (18.8) |
Mali enter the semifinals with more experience and a deeper bench, outscoring South Sudan 20–5 in bench points during their earlier meeting. However, South Sudan’s defensive tenacity and rebounding advantage have become defining traits, as they lead all teams with 51 rebounds per game.
Speaking after the earlier match, Washington noted: “We fought for 40 minutes but had some costly turnovers in clutch moments. We also missed a lot of shots we normally make, but we will come in tomorrow, focus on what we can control, and try and come out on top.”
Mali’s Sira Thienou acknowledged the challenge posed by the East African newcomers: “It was an ugly win but a win is a win. South Sudan are a good side and we expected this from them having watched their films.”
This semifinal clash marks the furthest any South Sudanese women’s team has gone in continental competition. If they defeat Mali, they will become the first AfroBasket debutant to reach the final since Nigeria achieved that feat in 1997.
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