This archive report was first published on 14 January 2020.
On January 14, 2020, the Fiba Afro Basketball Pre-qualifiers tipped off at the Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium with a thrilling match between South Sudan and Somalia. The South Sudanese team, led by Wek Wek, dominated the game from the start, taking a 25-17 lead in the first quarter.
As the match progressed, South Sudan's control over the boards and their opponents' defense became evident. They nailed treys from beyond the arc and showcased impressive rim-roasting dunks, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats.
At the break, South Sudan held a comfortable 63-39 lead, with Wek Wek, Tent Pal, Mauith Mathiang, and Deng Mayoit being the main actors. Somalia, however, showed flashes of brilliance from players like Shek Mohammed and Mohammed Wahid, but ultimately couldn't catch up with the polished Sudanese team.
"We want to take it one game at a time. We are taking every team seriously at this championship as we target the sole ticket for the next phase of the qualifiers," said Wek Wek in an interview.
South Sudan will face Eritrea in their second match on Wednesday at 2pm, while Somalia takes on Burundi at 4pm.
