Atong, top officials travel to Tunisia to support Bright Stars

Senior government officials, including Sports Minister Atong Kuol Manyang, have travelled to Tunisia to support South Sudan’s national basketball team, the Bright Stars, ahead of their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers match against Guinea later today.

The second-round qualifying game will tip off at 2pm Central African Time.

The high-level delegation arrived in Tunisia on Wednesday.

The delegation includes Sarah Nyanath Yong, Minister of Culture, Museum and National Heritage; Thok Turuk Thok, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning; Bush Buse, Central Equatoria State Minister of Youth and Sports; and Chuol Laam, President of the South Sudan National Olympic Committee.

Also on the delegation are Taban Paride Lokasmoi, Chairperson of the South Sudan National Youth Union, and Josephine Napwon, former Minister of Environment and Forestry and Chairperson of Concern for Children and Women’s Rights.

According to the final roster released by the South Sudan Basketball Federation, the starting lineup comprises Nuni Omot, Both Gach, Carlik Jones, Lok Wur, Mangok Mathiang, Marial Shayok and Majok Deng.

Also included in the squad are Peter Jok, Jackson Makoi, JT Thor, Kur Kuath and Wenyen Gabriel.

The Bright Stars are ranked number 1 in Africa and 24th in the world in the FIBA rankings.