Day 2 of February’s window of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Monastir was marked by South Sudan’s qualification for the Final Round, and the decision to postpone Uganda’s games due to health concerns.
The South Sudanese were caught in a difficult position at the break, trailing by 15, but somehow they rose from the ashes to beat Mali 69-65 in Wednesday’s highly-anticipated Group D clash.
For a team that came up short against continental powerhouse Nigeria less than 24 hours earlier, to be able to regroup and secure a win that keeps them second in the group with a 3-2 record with a game to play, that says volumes about the South Sudanese’ growth as a team.
More impressively was how South Sudan came back from 20 points down at some point to lead by as many as seven points later in the game.
After the completion of the group D Qualifiers , both South Sudan lost 2 and won 1 out of the 3 games in the second round while Mali also registered a similar results as that of South Sudan, winning 1 and losing 2 of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 games in Tunisia.
For Group D leaders Nigeria, it was business as usual as they remained unbeaten in six games thanks to a 64-51 triumph over Rwanda as well as beating Mali 76-56 in their last group D match to register 6 out 6 wins.
According to FIBA: “The decision was taken after five members of the Uganda delegation tested positive to COVID-19 after arriving at Monastir, despite delegation members having provided earlier negative tests.”
Sources: FIBA.com
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