In a disappointing turn of events, the South Sudan men's basketball team experienced a disrespectful moment when the wrong national anthem was played before their Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, where fans initially booed and later clapped in support of the South Sudan players.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the incorrect anthem played was that of Sudan, the neighboring country. This mistake left the players feeling disrespected and highlighted the importance of accurate representation and acknowledgment for their nation. South Sudan became an independent country in 2011 after a long period of civil war. Making their Summer Olympics debut in 2016, the men's basketball team qualified for the first time in history for the 2024 Games.

Expressing their disappointment, forward Majok Deng voiced his concern to reporters, stating, "They have to be better because this is the biggest stage, and you know that South Sudan is playing. There's no way you can get that wrong by playing a different anthem. It's disrespectful." Nonetheless, Deng acknowledged that mistakes happen and appreciated that the correct anthem was eventually played, allowing the game to proceed.

Paris 2024, the organizing group of the Games, issued a formal apology for the blunder. In their statement, they expressed sincere apologies to the South Sudan team and their supporters for the human error in playing the wrong national anthem. They assured that steps were already taken to understand the cause of the mistake and prevent such incidents from happening again.

Despite the anthem mishap, the South Sudan basketball team demonstrated their resilience on the court, defeating Puerto Rico with an impressive score of 90-79. Coached by Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, the team came close to upsetting the United States in a recent tune-up game, losing by just one point.

Ivey emphasized the players' pride for their country and their determination to perform. "South Sudan represents 'the land of the Black.' These guys wanted to play. Wanted to hear their anthem. They messed up on the anthem, but they got it correct. We all make mistakes," Ivey stated.

Forward Nuni Omot spoke on the incident, stating that it ignited a fire within the team. Feeling disrespected, the players saw it as fuel to continue proving themselves and earning the respect they deserve. Omot also commended the support of the Puerto Rican players during the anthem mishap, highlighting their shared values of respect and unity.

This anthem mix-up was not the only incident of its kind during the Paris Olympics. The International Olympic Committee apologized for mistakenly introducing South Korea's athletes as North Korea during the opening ceremony.

South Sudan, a country yet to medal in the Olympics, will face the United States in their next match on Wednesday. As the youngest nation in the world, their victory over Puerto Rico serves as a remarkable achievement and a testament to their determination and talent.

As the Games continue, South Sudan's basketball team is resolved to make their mark, leaving a lasting impact on the global stage of sports.