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South Sudan's historic Olympic debut in men's basketball was marred by an unfortunate glitch, but the team's resilience and determination shone through as they secured their first Olympic victory.Prior to the game against Puerto Rico, the wrong national anthem was played for South Sudan, a nation that emerged from civil war to gain independence in 2011. The error, which cut off the anthem after 20 seconds, left the Sudanese players and fans bewildered.However, the team's coach, Royal Ivey, an American, rallied his players, emphasizing the importance of national pride and the need to earn respect. The correct anthem was eventually played, and the South Sudanese players embraced, ready to face the challenge."It gave us fuel to the fire," said forward Nuni Omot. "We felt disrespected, but we have to continue to show the world what we're capable of."Despite the initial setback, South Sudan played with heart and determination, overcoming a 10-point deficit to secure a 90-79 victory. Omot praised the support from Puerto Rico's players and fans, who showed solidarity during the anthem mix-up."Respect to them," Omot said. "They want us to succeed, and they listened and waited for us. That's a testament to the type of people they are."Coach Ivey commended his players for their resilience and focus. "These guys wanted to play," he said. "They wanted to hear their anthem. We all make mistakes, but at the end of the day, these guys are brothers."South Sudan's victory marks a significant milestone for the young nation, showcasing their talent and determination on the world stage. The team's journey is a testament to the power of sports to unite and inspire.

South Sudan's basketball team, ranked 33rd in the world, nearly pulled off a historic upset against a star-studded United States team in an Olympic warm-up game in London on Saturday. The South Sudanese led by 14 points at halftime and held a late lead before LeBron James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, sank the game-winning layup with eight seconds remaining.James finished with a game-high 25 points, while Joel Embiid, who became a US citizen in 2022, added 14 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Davis came off the bench to contribute 15 points and 11 rebounds.For South Sudan, Marial Shayok led the way with 24 points, while Carlik Jones had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. J.T. Thor, who plays for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, sank a three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to give South Sudan a 100-99 lead.However, James's late heroics prevented South Sudan from pulling off one of the greatest shocks in international basketball."The ending was good for us -- just to feel that, to feel what it's going to feel like in Paris," said US coach Steve Kerr. "Good experience for us. Good reminder that when we play against teams, it's the biggest experience of their lives and we have to expect everyone to play like that."Kerr admitted that he did not prepare his team adequately for South Sudan's challenge. "I did not do a great job of preparing my team," he said. "We did not focus enough on what they are capable of and that's on me."James, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time NBA champion, emphasized the importance of continuous improvement for the US team. "We have to continue to take a step forward," he said. "A lot of these teams that we're playing have been practicing either one month or months in advance and we have maybe two weeks together."South Sudan's performance was a testament to their growing talent and potential. They will face the United States again in the Olympics group stages on July 31 at Lille.