SSD TO OLYMPICS

South Sudan, the world’s newest nation (2011), qualified for the 2024 Olympic men’s basketball tournament.

South Sudan, ranked 62nd in the world, earned a spot in the 12-team tournament in Paris next year as the top African nation at the ongoing FIBA World Cup.

It is the lowest-ranked team to qualify for an Olympic men’s tournament since at least 2004, according to FIBA.

Another chapter of history is written by the Bright Stars as South Sudan clinch Olympic basketball qualification for the very first time at the @FIBAWC 🌟

See you in Paris @SSBFed!#FIBAWC x #WinForSouthSudan 🇸🇸 pic.twitter.com/7U1zgp28NL

— FIBA (@FIBA) September 2, 2023

The Bright Stars were the lone African team (out of five) to win three games at the World Cup, going 3-2 overall.

They clinched an Olympic berth after a 101-78 win over Angola, the record 11-time African champion, in their last game of the World Cup