Bright Starlets Stun 11 Time Champions Senegal

(ABIDJAN) – South Sudan’s national women’s basketball team, the Bright Starlets, have made history by becoming the first debutant to win a medal at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket. In a dramatic third place playoff held on Sunday 3 August in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Bright Starlets edged past 11-time champions Senegal 66 to 65 to claim bronze in their maiden appearance at the tournament.

The victory, secured by a last second free throw from Nyamer Lual Diew, marked a defining moment for the East African country and cemented South Sudan’s rising reputation in international basketball. The win also denied Senegal a podium finish for only the third time in the tournament’s 26 editions, with previous misses recorded in 1966 and 2021.

South Sudan were granted a wild card entry to the competition but exceeded all expectations by progressing through the knockout stages after suffering two group stage losses. They defeated Egypt, Uganda and finally Senegal to complete one of the most memorable runs in recent AfroBasket history.

Senegal had a poor start to the game, scoring just one point in the opening seven minutes and trailing 26 to 10 at the end of the first quarter. They recovered in the second quarter with an 18 to 9 run, but South Sudan maintained control with a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter. Senegal’s Victorine Thiaw led a 10 to 0 comeback run to level the game at 44. Khadija Faye briefly gave Senegal their first lead at 46 to 45, but South Sudan went into the final quarter ahead by two points at 50 to 48.

Lena Timera gave Senegal a four-point lead with a long-range jumper, but the Bright Starlets fought back. In a tense final minute, Thiaw and Faye missed four free throws, keeping the score tied at 65. A foul by Cierra Dillard with just six seconds remaining handed Nyamer Lual Diew the chance to seal the win, and she converted one of two from the line to hand South Sudan the bronze medal.

Key players for South Sudan delivered standout performances. Delicia Washington led all scorers with 22 points, just two assists shy of a double double, and added five rebounds. Maria Teresa Gakdeng impressed with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists, finishing with an efficiency rating of 26. Team captain Adut Bulgak also contributed 14 points and collected 13 rebounds, 11 of them on defence.

The trio were instrumental in keeping South Sudan competitive, but it was Diew’s calm under pressure that ultimately sealed the historic win. Coach Alberto Antuna, who previously coached Uganda and Senegal, managed the team through tense moments and was credited for instilling composure and belief in the squad.

Statistically, South Sudan showed greater shooting efficiency, converting 45.8 percent of their field goals compared to Senegal’s 38.3 percent. They dominated in rebounds, pulling down 44 to Senegal’s 26, including 29 defensive rebounds that limited Senegal’s second-chance points. However, the Bright Starlets struggled with turnovers and missed free throws, allowing Senegal to score 30 points off 29 South Sudan turnovers and missing 14 of 32 free throws.