If the first quarter of the second game on the opening day of the 2025 FIBA AafroBasket was anything to go by, one of the tournament favourites, South Sudan were going to have a tough afternoon in Moçâmedes.
Despite going ahead midway through the opening period of the contest played at Pavilhao Multiusos Welwitschia Mirabilis, South Sudan did not look fluid with their preffered meticulous basketball style of pace, space and shooting.
From trailing 17-11, Guinea went on a 9-0 run with all the points coming from beyond the arc to take the lead and never let up the rest of the way, stunning South Sudan 88-80 on Tuesday.
EuroLeague star Alpha Diallo was hot from downtown and finished with a game-high 28 points to lead Guinea to the famous victory. The AS Monaco forward hit huge shots every time South Sudan, who fell behing by as many as 15 points midway through the third quarter, tried to make a run.
Diallo got support from former NBA Champion with the Milwaukee Bucks now turning out for Valley Suns in the NBA G League, Mamadi Diakite, who chipped in with an efficient 16 points and Souleyman Boum Jr. who ran the point so well, dropping 9 dimes to go with 14 points.
While South Sudan struggled to guard their 3-point line allowing 15 treys, they were also inefficient at the other end, connecting on just 5 of 21 from deep.
“They [Guinea] came out with the energy; they made a lot of three-point shots,” South Sudan forward Nuni Omot who led the team with a perfect 27 points admitted. “We just need to do better; be the hunters instead being hunted,” he added looking ahead on their next game against Libya on Thursday.
Point guard Kendale McCullum scored 16 points while center Jo Lual-Acuil had a 14 points and 10 rebounds double-double in a losing effort.
Guinea also return to action on Thursday to battle hosts Angola who blew by Libya 85-53.
