South Sudan got their first ever win in women’s basketball with a 54-40 win over Rwanda in the FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers for the 2023 Women’s AfroBasket.
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The qualifiers, which is underway at the MTN Arena in Kampala, have Egypt, Kenya, hosts Uganda, and the two aforementioned teams battling for a three-team qualification spot.
The South Sudanese team had previously lost their first game 83-68 to Egypt, but they appeared to have put the loss behind them as they secured a comeback win over the East Africans.
Although they were down 13-8 in the first quarter, they won the second 13-11, to take a three-point deficit into the second half.
After an 18-12 advantage in the third quarter, they took the lead for the first time in the game, led by the fantastic duo of Nyamuoch Pidor and Acheil Marko, before annihilating the Rwandans 15-4 in the fourth.
Pidor led the South Sudanese team in scoring with 18 points and five 3-pointers in an unforgettable performance. The 25-year-old added 5 rebounds and dished out three assists, along with 2 steals and a block. Marko, on the other hand, ended the game with 11 points.
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Marie Laurence led the Rwandans with eight rebounds, four rebounds, three steals, and an assist, as their disappointing showing saw none of their players end up in double digit points.
The other game of the day saw Uganda upset Egypt 86-85 in a tightly contested game that went to the wire.
Jannon Otoo, had a game-high of 27 points and 14 rebounds to lift the hosts above the North Africans, sealing their first win of the qualifiers after an opening day 61-53 defeat to reigning champions Kenya.
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Hope Akelo also helped the Ugandans by contributing 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Brenda Ekone added another 13 points for the hosts.
Raneen Elgedawy finished with 22 points for the Egyptians; Meral Abdelgawad picked up 11 rebounds along with 12 points; and Deghady and Nadine Mohamed combined for 34 points at 17 apiece.
The FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers started on February 14 and will run through February 19, with the South Sudanese women’s team set to take on hosts Uganda on Friday.
