South Africa defeated host nation England 61-59 in a thrilling game at the Nations Cup.
Fifth-ranked South Africa had comfortably beaten Uganda in their previous match, while their opponents, England, ranked fourth, had won their opening game against Malawi.
The match was so close that the first three quarters ended in ties, with scores of 14-14, 30-30, and 46-46.
However, South Africa proved too strong for England in the final quarter, with powerful attacks and solid defense, eventually pulling ahead to a 58-49 lead. England struggled to regain their balance and despite a late fightback, they ran out of time.
In the earlier match, Malawi defeated Uganda 59-45, and England’s loss was somewhat forgotten by their fans.
South Africa aims to start the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record by defeating Malawi as well.
If South Africa can maintain this momentum, they could make a significant impact in the tournament.