South Sudan’s men’s basketball team defeated Puerto Rico 90-79 in Paris on Sunday in its first ever appearance at the Games, but the result meant more than just picking up two points in Group C. For South Sudan Basketball Federation President Luol Deng, it was the culmination of everything that he and the team had worked so hard to achieve.
“When the national anthem was sung, you know, it just gave me goosebumps, and I realized that this was bigger than basketball,” Deng told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies.
He was born in Wau, in what is now South Sudan, before the country’s independence.
South Sudan officially gained independence from Sudan in 2011 following a referendum, making it the world’s newest widely-recognized state.
South Sudan players celebrate after defeating Puerto Rico.
Persons:
Luol Deng, ” Deng, Amanda Davies, Deng, I’ve, didn’t, we’ve, Royal Ivey, ”, Christina Pahnke, We’ve, “ We’ve, “, we’re, –, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry
Organizations:
CNN, Puerto Rico, South Sudan Basketball Federation, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Second Sudanese, Duke, Chicago, South, United Nations, Olympics, USA, Team USA
Locations:
Paris, Wau, South Sudan, Egypt, London, England, Great Britain, Sudan