Lions fight back, Cameroon break South Sudan’s fire in dramatic group finale
In Rades, Tunisia, the message was simple, nobody leaves Group A untouched. And it was Cameroon who delivered the loudest thunderclap as the first Window of the 2027 FIBA Africa World Cup Qualifiers came to a close.
Just 48 hours after South Sudan dropped a scorching 109 points on Cape Verde, the Bright Stars were reduced to a flicker—held to a season-low 56 points by a snarling, relentless Cameroonian defence that refused to blink.
Cameroon’s dramatic 60–56 victory wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. A warning shot. A reminder that the Indomitable Lions of basketball are tired of watching others grab Africa’s spotlight.
South Sudan, usually deadly from deep, went ice-cold—3 of 30 from three. Their offensive engine stalled, jammed and finally collapsed under Cameroon's pressure.
The Bright Stars turned the ball over 14 times, and their sharpshooter Jackson Makoi endured a shocking 0-for-11 on the day. Makur Maker was held to a mere two points.
“They played a very physical game… we couldn’t put the ball in the basket,” admitted South Sudan head coach Luol Deng, giving full credit to Cameroon’s chokehold defence.
And that defence was by design.
“We won the game with our defence,” declared Cameroon's head coach Alfred Aboya, a man whose calm confidence now sits at the heart of Cameroon’s revival.
“We told our players, South Sudan scores in transition, catch-and-shoot threes and offensive rebounds. We took that away—60 percent of their offence. We did a good job taking away their strengths and exploring their weaknesses.”
He wasn’t exaggerating.
Cameroon buried 10 threes, moved the ball with purpose, and out-assisted their opponents 19–14.
Jeremiah Hill and Jordan Bayehe powered the scoring with 15 points each, but this victory was built on grit, discipline, and belief.
At one point the Lions led by 18 points. When South Sudan fought back to within two, Cameroon refused to blink. They held the line. They finished the job.
This wasn’t just about finishing Group A at 2–1.
This was about something bigger—a nation clawing its way toward a dream that has slipped through its fingers too many times.
Cameroon has come close before: Olympic qualifiers in 2008 and 2024, heartbreak both times. But the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers have ignited something new—hunger, swagger, destiny.
“We showed up and we showed out,” Aboya said firmly. “We have big ambitions. We want to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in our history. We cannot take anything lightly. We’ll be ready for the next window.”
With their defence suffocating, their shooters finally awake, and their belief surging, Cameroon didn’t just win. It was an announcement.
Comments
Post a Comment