Just a step to the world: Will South Sudan secure the ticket?
The final round for the FIBA Basketball Africa World Cup 2023 Qualifier will get underway in the next couple of weeks, with South Sudan needing just a victory to seal her first appearance at the global stage.
With only Cote d’Ivoire already guaranteed a place among Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia as co-hosts, South Sudan will be fighting for the four available tickets reserved for Africa under little pressure.
The local boys need just a victory out of a possible three wins to secure a berth at the global arena.
The games will take place from August 25 to September 10.
South Sudan leads Group F, and most basketball fans are wondering if they can pull off a single historic victory and secure their first-ever World Cup qualification.
“It is not yet finished; until it is over, you should have a cause to celebrate,” Loul Deng, South Sudan Basketball Federation president, said last year when the team returned from the second round of qualifiers in Egypt.
“I appreciate how you all welcomed us, but sometimes too much excitement before a task is completed can lead to a team taking a significant hit,” he cautioned.
South Sudan is currently leading Group F with 18 points, followed by Egypt with 17, Senegal with 17, and Tunisia on February 16.
With three games remaining, any of these teams have a strong chance of qualifying, provided they take advantage of their opportunity.
These players know that they still have to face Senegal, the only team that beat them, denying the local lads an early ticket to the worlds.
These two giants will clash on February 24, 2023. They will then play the Democratic Republic of Congo the following day DR Congo then host Egypt a day later.
