Road to World Cup: Prep Tournaments

The Senior Men's Team's World Cup journey officially began in Melbourne, Australia, where training camp was hosted.

South Sudan participated in the nation’s first overseas basketball tournament, Boomers vs. World, against Brazil, Venezuela, and the host nation, as well as the third-ranked World Cup team at the time, Australia.

Players Wenyen Gabriel, Carlik Jones, Marial Shayok, Mangok Mathiang, and Khaman Maluach made their long-awaited debuts during the friendlies.

Subsequently, the Bright Stars traveled to Quanzhuo, China for friendly matches against Iran and Jordan. Mareng Gatkouth and Emmanuel Akot sustained injuries during the two pre-World Cup matches and, as a result, did not make the ultimate World Cup roster.

Kuany Kuany, Nuni Omot, Sunday Dech, Peter Jok, Junior Madut, Majok Deng, Khaman Maluach, Koch Bar, Deng Achuoth, Marial Shayok, Carlik Jones, and Wenyen Gabriel comprised the first South Sudan FIBA World Cup team in the history of basketball and the country.