South Sudan Give US Huge Scare in Olympic Basketball Warm-up

Basketball - USA Basketball Showcase - United States v Serbia - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - July 17, 2024 LeBron James of the U.S. in action REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Basketball - USA Basketball Showcase - United States v Serbia - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - July 17, 2024 LeBron James of the U.S. in action REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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South Sudan Give US Huge Scare in Olympic Basketball Warm-up

Basketball - USA Basketball Showcase - United States v Serbia - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - July 17, 2024 LeBron James of the U.S. in action REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Basketball - USA Basketball Showcase - United States v Serbia - Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - July 17, 2024 LeBron James of the U.S. in action REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

South Sudan's basketball team came close to stunning the United States' collection of NBA superstars on Saturday before losing 101-100 in an Olympic Games warm-up in London.

The US trailed by 14 points at half-time before LeBron James came to the rescue with 23 points, including the key score with just 20 seconds left.

Anthony Davis added 15 points with 11 rebounds for the US, according to AFP.

For South Sudan, who are ranked 33 in the world, Marial Shayok scored 25 points while Carlik Jones had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

Both sides will meet again in the pool stages of the Paris Olympics which get underway on Friday.



French Prosecutors Launch Probe after 2 Congolese Paralympic Athletes Go Missing

Employees are at work to dismantle the Olympic venue of Pont Alexandre III near the Grand Palais in Paris, on September 11, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
Employees are at work to dismantle the Olympic venue of Pont Alexandre III near the Grand Palais in Paris, on September 11, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
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French Prosecutors Launch Probe after 2 Congolese Paralympic Athletes Go Missing

Employees are at work to dismantle the Olympic venue of Pont Alexandre III near the Grand Palais in Paris, on September 11, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
Employees are at work to dismantle the Olympic venue of Pont Alexandre III near the Grand Palais in Paris, on September 11, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

French judicial authorities are investigating the disappearance of two Paralympic athletes from Congo who recently competed in the Paris Games, the prosecutor’s office in the Paris suburb of Bobigny confirmed on Thursday.
According to The Associated Press, prosecutors opened the investigation on Sept. 7, after members of the athletes' delegation warned authorities of their disappearance two days before.
Le Parisien newspaper reported that shot putter Mireille Nganga and Emmanuel Grace Mouambako, a visually impaired sprinter who was accompanied by a guide, went missing on Sept. 5, along with a third person.
The athletes' suitcases were also gone but their passports remained with the Congolese delegation, according to an official with knowledge of the investigation, who asked to remain anonymous as they were not allowed to speak publicly about the case.
The Paralympic Committee of the Democratic Republic of Congo did not respond to requests for information from AP.
Nganga — who recorded no mark in the seated javelin and shot put competitions — and Mouambako were Congo’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, organizers said.