South Sudan's men's basketball team achieved a historic first Olympic victory by defeating Puerto Rico 90-79 in their debut match at the Paris Games. The event was initially marred by an anthem blunder, where the organizers mistakenly played Sudan's anthem instead of South Sudan's, leading to boos and confusion among fans and players. The correct anthem was later played, and the game proceeded with South Sudan rallying in the second half to secure the win. This victory is seen as a unifying moment for the nation, which gained independence in 2011 after years of civil war. The team's success is largely credited to the efforts of former NBA All-Star Luol Deng, who has significantly developed the country's basketball program. The players expressed that the anthem mistake fueled their determination to gain respect on the international stage.