July 21, 2024 (JUBA)- South Sudan President Salva Kiir has praised the national basketball team that narrowly lost to the United States in a friendly on Sunday. The U.S defeated the Bright Stars of South Sudan by 101-100 in a tense game. “It is with honour and a profound sense of national pride that I congratulate the leadership of the South Sudan Basketball Federation under Luol Deng and all the players of the South Sudan men’s basketball team, our bright stars, for impressive performance and commendable strides you have made in the development of basketball in our young nation”, Kiir said in a statement. Kiir said basketball has made history since the creation of South Sudan in 2011. South Sudan qualified for 2024 Paris Olympic Games as the highest placed African team. “Your impressive performance has inspired many open-minded people across the globe to get to know that South Sudan is a country with more to offer the world. You shall another historical mark on July 28 when you represent South Sudan at the men’s Olympic basketball tournament in Paris 2024”, stressed Kiir. South Sudan’s minister of youth and sports, Joseph Geng Akech, commended Kiir and the council of ministers …

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