South Sudan's national Basketball team. |Photo: Courtesy.

South Sudan is the top-ranking African squad at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 after being ranked number 17 out of 32 teams in the classification to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The country is ranked number 17 ahead of France Japan and Egypt with Jordan Iran and Venezuela ranked 32,31,30 at the end of the group respectively.

This was a historic feat for South Sudan, who were playing at the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time ever.

The country will see action in the Olympics for the first time ever as well.

Numi Omot, one of the players told reporters after the historic performance that no one ever imagined the team would be in this position.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true. We became an independent country in 2011. No one ever imagined or dreamed of being in this position,” Omot said.

“And now we’re going to have the chance to walk across the Olympic stage with our flag. It’s unbelievable everything that’s happened. Obviously, this is one of the most… I’m so emotional right now. It’s one of the best stories, sports stories that’s that’s came out in a long time. So I’m just I’m just very blessed to be a part of this.”

The Bright Stars was eliminated after two losses and one win in the group stage.

This qualified the team to battle for a chance Classification Round at qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The team started the January to Paris by defeating the Philippines 87 to 68 followed by another victory over Angola by a 23-point 101 to 78.

Africa still has a second seat that can be grabbed by Egypt and Angola or even Cape Verde or Ivory Coast through playing with 12 countries in the international supplementary.

And with New Zealand beating Egypt the nearest competitor this allowed South Sudan to secure a seat in Paris Olympic Games 2023.