{"id":78569,"date":"2024-07-31T17:48:46","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T17:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/uganda\/all-news\/s-sudan-no-longer-a-secret-as-they-face-usa-in-rematch"},"modified":"2024-07-31T18:13:43","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T18:13:43","slug":"s-sudan-no-longer-a-secret-as-they-face-usa-in-rematch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/uganda\/all-news\/s-sudan-no-longer-a-secret-as-they-face-usa-in-rematch","title":{"rendered":"S. Sudan \u201cNo Longer a Secret\u201d as they Face USA in Rematch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Uganda. <\/strong><\/span>The USA men national basketball team\u2019s biggest defeat at the Olympics came at the Athens 2004 Games in Greece, then falling to Puerto Rico 92-73 in the group stage.<\/b><\/p>\n

America did regroup and go on to settle for bronze in one of just three Games editions they have participated in and not won gold.<\/p>\n

Incidentally, it is Puerto Rico that South Sudan – USA\u2019s next opponents at the Paris 2024 on Wednesday night – beat for their Olympics debut.<\/p>\n

Now, do not arrest yourself reading too much into that. We are talking 20 years ago since that heavy defeat for the USA happened.<\/p>\n

Plus, that loss to South Sudan was also Puerto Rico\u2019s first return to the Games since 2004.<\/p>\n

For Wednesday\u2019s clash, we are talking about the world\u2019s undisputed number one basketball nation – with 16 Olympic gold medals in 19 appearances to their name – against the world\u2019s youngest country at the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n

South Sudan did not even exist 13 years ago. But one thing the world can expect when the Games’ most successful team meet the Olympics debutants is competition.<\/p>\n

Praise from LeBron, Durant<\/b><\/p>\n

The Bright Stars showed that in their history making 90-79 win over Puerto Rico last Sunday, where Carlik Jones led with 19 points and former NBA player Marial Shayok added another 15.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot just to be here,\u201d forward Majok Deng said. \u201cIt was a surreal moment and emotional in a way too because to raise your flag at that stage means everything and that\u2019s what we\u2019re fighting for.\u201d<\/p>\n

They had earlier shown their hunger and drive even more in their Olympics exhibition match against their Wednesday opponents, the USA, only losing to them by a point in the 101-100 defeat.<\/p>\n

And if the USA – who brushed aside Serbia 110-84 in their Paris 2024 opener – woke up to their earlier game against South Sudan late, coach Steve Kerr\u2019s men will know better this time round.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve (South Sudan) built up who they are right now and having an opportunity to represent their country in the Olympics is amazing,\u201d said USA\u2019s three-time Olympic champion, Kevin Durant, ahead of Wednesday\u2019s clash.<\/p>\n

Durant\u2019s sentiment was echoed by LeBron James, who expressed his pride in former team-mate – South Sudanese Wenyen Gabriel<\/p>\n

\u201c(I) have great memories of him being part of the Lakers. Always proud of everything he does.\u201d<\/p>\n

South Sudan, who qualified for the Olympics by finishing as the best African team at the World Cup last year, are aware of USA’s renewed focus since their last meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not a secret anymore,\u201d admitted the Bright Stars coach, Royal Ivey, after their victory over Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

Triumph over adversity<\/b><\/p>\n

South Sudan became the world\u2019s youngest country on July 11, 2011 after gaining independence from Sudan, with whom they had been involved in a civil war for decades.<\/p>\n

The South Sudan Basketball Federation (SSBF) was established about the same time, but did not become a member of Fiba until 2013. They played their first official game in 2017, losing to Egypt 87-76.<\/p>\n

The Bright Stars have already made huge strides post-independence, reaching the quarter-finals of Fiba AfroBasket 2021 and qualifying for the World Cup 2023.<\/p>\n

It is at the World Cup 2023 that they earned the Paris 2024 ticket as the highest-placed African team at the tournament ( 17th).<\/p>\n

The above milestones would not have been possible without one of their own, the former Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Lakers and Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng.<\/p>\n

Deng was elected president of the SSBF in 2019 and set about continuing the work he had started with his foundation since 2005.<\/p>\n

No matter what happens on Wednesday night, every move will be a new mark for the Bright Stars back home and all over the world.<\/p>\n

Paris Olympics 2024<\/b><\/p>\n

Men\u2019s Basketball, Group C<\/p>\n

Wednesday, July 31, 2024<\/b><\/p>\n

United States vs South Sudan, 10pm<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Uganda. The USA men national basketball team\u2019s biggest defeat at the Olympics came at the Athens 2004 Games in Greece, then falling to Puerto Rico 92-73 in the group stage. America did regroup and go on to settle for bronze in one of just three Games editions they have participated in and not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":78568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,17],"tags":[234],"class_list":["post-78569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-uganda"],"yoast_head":"\nS. 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