South Sudan and Cameroon opened the third window of qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 with convincing wins over Libya and Cape Verde to sail through to the second round of qualifiers.
Last Updated on
July 3, 2026
South Sudan joined the cast of few teams to secure a place in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers after overwhelming Libya 95-57 in Douala.
The Bright Stars delivered another commanding display, combining relentless defense with their trademark dominance on the boards to remain one of the tournament's standout teams.
Aher Uguak paced South Sudan with 15 points, while Kur Kuath, JT Thor and Lol Wur also reached double figures as the offense fired on all cylinders. The team's depth was equally evident, with the bench contributing 42 points.
Rebounding once again proved to be South Sudan's biggest weapon. The Bright Stars outrebounded Libya 53-34, extending their remarkable streak of winning the rebounding battle in all 12 of their World Cup qualifying games.
Despite featuring a roster that included only four players from the previous qualifying window, South Sudan showed little sign of disruption. Crisp ball movement, disciplined defense and excellent chemistry allowed them to control the contest from start to finish.
The result continues an impressive qualifying campaign in which South Sudan have recorded victories over Libya and Cape Verde, with Cameroon remaining the only team to have defeated them after a narrow 60-56 win in November 2025.
Head coach Royal Ivey, returning to the sidelines for the first time since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, praised his team's togetherness but insisted the job is far from complete.
"I didn't even know we qualified for the second round. For us, it's one game at a time. The business isn't finished—we've still got two more games to play."
South Sudan now turn their attention to Saturday's clash with Cape Verde before closing the qualifying window against hosts Cameroon on July 5.
In the second game, Cameroon opened their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers campaign with an impressive 82-72 victory over Cape Verde in front of their home fans at the Complexe Multisports de Japoma on Thursday.
The Indomitable Lions controlled much of the contest through disciplined defense, balanced scoring and strong rebounding as they outrebounded their opponents 49-44, denying Cape Verde the opportunity to mount a sustained comeback.
Cameroon capitalized on second-chance opportunities 11-12 and forced key turnovers prompting the Cape Verdeans into giving possession away 19 times. The Lions quickly converted defensive stops into transition baskets to maintain a double-digit advantage for most of the second half.
The victory was an important response after Cameroon fell 82-77 to Cape Verde in their previous meeting, with the hosts showing greater composure and physicality on both ends of the floor.
Cameroon pulled away in the middle quarters with a decisive scoring run built on defensive stops and efficient ball movement, creating a lead Cape Verde never managed to erase. Jeremiah Hill & Jordan Bayehe both knocked in 14 points with captain Fabian Ateba and Samir Gbetkom each adding 12 and 10 points to collective effort.
Landry Nnoko grabbed 9 boards while Ulrich Chomche picked 8 boards, helping Cameroon outrebound Cape Verde. Ivan Almedia (16 points) Anderson Correia (15 points), Joel Almeida (13 points) & Will Tavares (12 points) led the scoring for Cape Verde while Kenneti Mendes picked up 11 rebounds.
The win gives Cameroon an early boost in Group A as they continue their quest for a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, while Cape Verde will look to bounce back in their next qualifier.
Pic Credit - FIBA
