President Salva Kiir is pictured with some members of the national men's basketball team squad during a meeting to congratulate them, in Juba. (Photo: Office of the President).

President Salva Kiir has promised to join the national men’s basketball team when they travel to Asia for the August 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign.

Kiir made the remarks on Saturday while meeting the team at his office to congratulate them for qualifying for FIBA World Cup.

South Sudan secured their World Cup spot on February 24, and won all their three matches in the final window of Africa Qualifiers in Egypt.

They beat some of Africa’s biggest basketball teams including Senegal and hosts Egypt.

This year’s FIBA World Cup will be co-hosted by Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.

32 teams from all around the world will compete in the tournament that will see a champion crowned by September 10th 2023.

Addressing the team, President Kiir urged South Sudanese players in the diaspora to join the national team and fight for the flag.

“You did what is supposed to be done by the citizens of the country, nobody believes that one day South Sudan will be an independent State, nobody believes so, but here is the flag, this is your flag that you are fighting for,” Kiir said.

He adds: “I will be also joining you in August, I will lead you to the World Cup.”

Kiir further commended the national basketball-governing body for their role in the successful World Cup Qualification campaign.

South Sudan Basketball Federation President Luol Deng said on Friday that the qualification of the national team to the World Cup, which started three years ago in Kenya, has shown the world that the country has the potential to do wonders if it is united.

He says the team has managed to change the world’s perception about South Sudan, which has always been about conflicts and suffering.

He was addressing thousands of fans who turn up at Dr. John Garang’s mausoleum on Friday to honor the team

“The beauty of this is the fact that we are able to change what truly people think of South Sudan,” he said.

“What we will show to the world in the next three years is how much we are willing to support each other when we get together and we do it all together as one.”