South Sudan was entitled to participate in the FIBA Basketball World Cup

South Sudan on Friday became the first team in African basketball history to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in their first attempt, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) reports.

Nuni Omot came up with a man-of-the-match performance to help South Sudan beat Senegal 83-75 and become the second African team - after Cote d'Ivoire - to qualify for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in Indonesia, Japan and Philippines.

Senegal hoped to increase the chance to return to the World Cup for the third straight time, while South Sudan was made history with a great step.

This looked more like a battle between Nuni Omot and Senegal's Brancou Badio.

Omot was 7-for-14 from the floor to finish with a team-high of 26 points, he added 8 rebounds and dished out 4 assists.

Koch Bar came off the bench for Deng Acuoth who picked his second foul three minutes into the game, to add valuable 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists for the history making South Sudan.

Badio did everything he possibly could to keep Senegal at bay. From creating shooting opportunities, which resulted in 6 assists, to attacking the rim with a thunderous dunk on Sunday Dech, Badio finished with a game-high 29 points, but despite his effort, the night belonged to South Sudan. 

(Radio Tamazuj)