South Sudan defeated Kenya 80-63 to secure third place in the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers in Cairo. Rose Macuei starred with a double-double performance, while South Sudan demonstrated key rebounding strength. The victory marks a significant improvement for South Sudan, whereas Kenya faces challenges after dropping from third to fourth place.
In a decisive performance at the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers, South Sudan triumphed over Kenya for the second consecutive time, clinching third place in the tournament held at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo. Despite a challenging second quarter, South Sudan secured an 80-63 victory, improving its annual record to 3-2. Kenya, the previous regional champions, finished in fourth place with a lone victory against Burundi.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred in the second quarter when Kenya, initially trailing by 19 points, responded with nine three-pointers from Christine Akinyi and Jemimah Omondi, closing the gap to 32-22. Although Kenya narrowed the score to 44-38 just before halftime, a buzzer-beater three-pointer by Adut Bulgak expanded the lead to nine points going into the third quarter. South Sudan then maintained their advantage, concluding the game with an 18-12 third-quarter run and 15-13 in the final period.
Rose Macuei was the standout player, delivering an impressive double-double with 18 points and 19 rebounds, achieving a game-high efficiency rating of 30. Additionally, Delicia Washington, Nyamuoch Pidor Teny, and Adut Bulgak made significant contributions, scoring 25, 18, and 12 points respectively, with Bulgak also achieving a double-double by collecting 11 rebounds.
South Sudan’s ability to rebound was instrumental in their victory, outpacing Kenya with a 56-41 advantage in that statistic and securing 25 second-chance points. Kenya struggled to catch up after their slow start, ultimately losing by 17 points, mirroring their earlier defeat in the group phase. South Sudan and Kenya both tied in points in the paint at 26, whereas Kenya’s bench significantly outperformed with 21 points compared to South Sudan’s 3.
This victory marks a notable improvement for South Sudan, which, after debuting in 2021 without wins, has now secured three victories in 2025 and claimed the bronze medal. Kenya, on the other hand, has faced a decline, falling from third place in 2023 to fourth in the current qualifiers, indicating a setback in their performance at the regional level. This report will continue to receive updates as new information emerges.
The 2025 Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers is a pivotal tournament in which teams compete for rankings leading to participation in the AfroBasket Championship. South Sudan has shown significant growth since their initial participation in 2021, transitioning from a winless team to a competitive force that managed to secure a bronze medal in the latest qualifiers. Kenya, having once held a stronger position in regional competitions, now faces challenges, impacting their overall standing and qualification for upcoming African tournaments.
In conclusion, South Sudan’s recent victory over Kenya reflects substantial growth and improvement in their basketball program, moving from a position of defeat to one of success within just a few tournaments. Kenya’s decline highlights the importance of consistent performance and adaptability, reminding us that competitive sports can yield unpredictable outcomes. This match serves not only as a conclusion to the 2025 qualifiers for these teams but also as a learning experience for future competitions.
Original Source: www.fiba.basketball
