Bright Stars Deliver Biggest Margin Win of 2025 AfroBasket Tournament

(MOÇÂMEDES, ANGOLA) – South Sudan’s national basketball team, the Bright Stars, delivered a commanding performance on Thursday with a 115-52 victory over Libya, marking the largest winning margin of the 2025 AfroBasket tournament so far.

The result came just two days after a surprise defeat to Guinea in their Group C opener. Determined to restore their position as one of the top contenders, the Bright Stars dominated from the first whistle, improving their group record to one win and one loss. Libya, meanwhile, fell to 0-2 with one game remaining.

All 12 South Sudanese players contributed at least two points. Team captain and 2023 Basketball Africa League Most Valuable Player Nuni Omot led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Five other Bright Stars also reached double figures, highlighting the depth of the squad.

The game’s turning point came early. Within two and a half minutes, South Sudan led 9-2, forcing Libya’s head coach, Sam Vincent, to call an early timeout. The Bright Stars’ relentless full court press continued to cause problems, and by the midpoint of the first quarter, they had extended their lead to 18-2. They ended the opening quarter ahead 31-12 and never looked back.

Libya’s struggle was evident in their statistics. They committed seven turnovers in the first quarter alone, adding another five in the second. South Sudan capitalised on these errors, scoring 32 points from a total of 21 Libyan turnovers. From the free-throw line, Libya managed just 12 conversions from 24 attempts, while shooting only 11-for-49 from the field.

Bench strength proved decisive. South Sudan’s substitutes outscored Libya’s bench players 32-9, underlining the overall team contribution. At one point, the Bright Stars led by as many as 65 points, becoming the first team in the championship to score over 100 points.

For Libya, the result was a major setback. Despite showing promise in the qualifiers, they have now suffered heavy defeats to both Angola and South Sudan. Their chances of advancing to the quarterfinals are slim, while South Sudan’s victory keeps their hopes alive for topping Group C.

With their confidence restored, the Bright Stars will aim to build on this result as they continue their campaign.

South Sudan – AfroBasket 2025 Group C Performance So Far