Historic Wins for South Sudan and Egypt in AfroBasket Zone 5…

South Sudan achieved a historic second win against Kenya, winning 86-69 in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 qualifiers, while Egypt narrowly defeated Uganda 65-62, retaining a perfect record. Both teams showed commendable performances, with South Sudan’s depth proving pivotal and Egypt overcoming late challenges. Coaches remain focused on addressing turnover issues as they prepare for upcoming matches.

In a historic achievement, South Sudan secured its second-ever win in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 qualifiers, triumphing over Kenya with a score of 86-69. This victory follows their inaugural win against Rwanda earlier in the competition. Delicia Washington spearheaded South Sudan’s offense with 26 points, while teammates Adut Bulgak and Nyamuoch Teny contributed 14 points each. The depth of South Sudan’s bench was crucial, as they outscored Kenya’s bench 23 to 3 and excelled at the free-throw line, converting 28 of 33 attempts.

Egypt also claimed its second victory of the tournament with a tight 65-62 win against Uganda. The host team initially built a 14-point lead but faced a challenging comeback from Uganda. Notable performances came from Paige Robinson and captain Jane Asinde, who helped narrow the score. Egypt’s late-game layups from Hala Elshaarawy and Farida Abdelnabi proved decisive as they held on for the win, despite concerns about turnovers and defensive lapses.

Coach Alberto Antuna expressed pride in South Sudan’s achievement, acknowledging the need to address high turnover rates despite the victory. Adut Bulgak emphasized the team’s motivation to continue pursuing success in the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Kenya’s coach George Mayienga remarked on the necessity of regrouping ahead of their match against Burundi, highlighting the importance of minimizing turnovers and enhancing performance on the boards.

For Egypt, coach Amr Elmaraghy noted the team’s initial strength but recognized the need for improvement in maintaining focus throughout the game. Uganda’s coach Nicholas Natuhereza admitted that despite their efforts, they fell short in crucial moments but aimed to improve upon closing games effectively. Both teams look to refine strategies ahead of their upcoming matches, with South Sudan and Egypt building momentum in the qualifiers.

The FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 qualifiers serve as a critical tournament for national teams in the region, allowing them to showcase their talent and secure spots in the larger AfroBasket tournament. For South Sudan, this is only the third time they are participating, making their victories particularly significant in the context of their basketball development. Egypt, as a host nation, benefits from local support and aims for consistency as they compete for top honors in the tournament. Both teams face similar challenges, including turnover management and defensive strategies, as they work towards improving their standings in the qualifiers.

The recent matches in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone 5 qualifiers underscore significant milestones for both South Sudan and Egypt, who demonstrated resilience and tactical skill in their victories. South Sudan’s historical win against Kenya marks a crucial step in their development as a competitive basketball nation, while Egypt maintains its perfect record despite challenges from Uganda. As the tournament progresses, both teams look to refine their strategies and continue their pursuit of success on the continental stage.

Original Source: www.fiba.basketball