South Sudan vs Nigeria

South Sudan set the tone early, taking the first quarter 22-15 behind sharp perimeter shooting from Carlik Jones and JT Thor. The Bright Stars' pace-and-space system — installed by head coach Royal Ivey — created open looks and forced Nigeria's defence into rotation.

Nigeria struggled to find offensive rhythm in the first half, with Chimezie Metu and Josh Okogie unable to get consistent looks against South Sudan's active defence. The Bright Stars carried a 37-30 lead into halftime after a 15-15 second quarter.

The D'Tigers came out with renewed intensity after the break. Caleb Agada and Efe Abogidi sparked the rally, attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Nigeria outscored South Sudan 27-23 in the third quarter, pulling within 60-57 heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair. With the scores tied late, Carlik Jones took over down the stretch, scoring on a driving layup and a step-back jumper to restore a five-point lead with under three minutes to play. Nigeria had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but South Sudan's defence held firm. The quarter ended 22-22.

After Nigeria had erased a 12-point deficit to make it a one-possession game midway through the fourth quarter, Jones answered with consecutive scoring plays — a driving layup and a step-back jumper — that pushed the lead back to five with under three minutes remaining. Nigeria never got closer than two points the rest of the way.

Carlik Jones (South Sudan) — The former G League MVP and Dallas Mavericks guard was the game's standout, leading the Bright Stars in scoring while directing the offence. His composure in the fourth-quarter pressure moments proved decisive. Player of the Match.

Wenyen Gabriel (South Sudan) — The former NBA forward (150 career games) provided a physical presence on the glass, battling Nigeria's frontcourt of Udoka Azubuike and Chima Moneke. His rebounding in the final minutes denied Nigeria second-chance opportunities.

Caleb Agada (Nigeria) — The veteran guard led Nigeria's second-half fightback, scoring in double figures and injecting energy after D'Tigers' sluggish start.

Chimezie Metu (Nigeria) — The former Sacramento Kings forward was effective in the paint, contributing on both ends and keeping Nigeria within striking distance during their third-quarter surge.

South Sudan's 82 points came against a Nigeria defence that had held Cameroon to a manageable total 24 hours earlier. The Bright Stars' tournament averages (82.4 PPG, 21.7 APG) reflect a more productive offence than Nigeria (77.1 PPG, 18.3 APG), and this game followed that pattern. Nigeria's tournament three-point shooting (23.8%) remains a structural weakness after another cold night from deep. South Sudan's 50 rebounds per game — best among Group E teams through the qualifying campaign — also proved decisive in limiting Nigeria's second-chance points.

South Sudan improve to 6-2 in Group E with 14 points, strengthening their bid for a top-two finish and automatic qualification for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar. Nigeria drop to 4-4 (12 points) after consecutive losses, leaving their campaign under serious pressure.

Only the top two teams from Group E qualify automatically, plus the best third-placed team across Groups E and F. Cameroon lead the group after winning their opening game against Nigeria, with the race for the remaining spots wide open among the chasing pack.

South Sudan face Tunisia on Sunday 30 August. Nigeria take on Cape Verde the same day. Both are winnable but carry outsized stakes for a group with little margin left.

South Sudan avenged two previous losses to Nigeria — 76-56 in November 2020 and 75-70 in February 2021 — with a composed performance built on a fast start and late-game poise. Carlik Jones delivered when it mattered most, and Royal Ivey's system continues to produce results. For Nigeria, David Fizdale's side have work to do with the margin for error now close to zero.