The United States’ pursuit of a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball remains on track after securing a spot in the quarter-finals with a win over South Sudan on Thursday. The Bright Stars, ranked 33rd globally, were unable to match the 16-time champions and fell 103-86 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in one of the most watched tournaments of all time.

The USA dominated from the first quarter and never relinquished their lead, with Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo scoring a team-high 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds. For South Sudan, Nuni Omot led with a game-high 24 points.

Despite the entertaining nature of the match, it was not without drama. For South Sudan, this game was an opportunity for redemption after losing to the Americans by a single point in a friendly match before the Olympics in London. For the USA, it was a chance to reaffirm their dominance as the kings of the court.

The USA now tops Group C with four points and will conclude their group stage matches by playing Puerto Rico on Saturday. Meanwhile, South Sudan faces a must-win game against Serbia to advance to the next round. Team USA, featuring NBA stars, four NBA MVPs, six NBA champions, and ten Olympic gold medals among them, is expected to secure the top spot heading into the knockout rounds.

South Sudan, however, remains a fan favorite in the tournament, with hopes of winning a medal for their country and continent.

In other Olympic action, Morocco secured a spot in the men’s football semi-finals with a resounding 4-0 victory over the United States, thanks to a standout performance from captain Achraf Hakimi, who scored one goal and significantly contributed to the team’s success. Soufiane Rahimi, Ilias Akhomach, and Mehdi Maouhoub also added to the scoreline.

The win sets up a semi-final clash for Morocco against either Japan or Spain. With a passionate Moroccan diaspora in France, Morocco, who topped their group ahead of Argentina, are strong contenders for the gold medal. The United States’ loss marks the end of their Olympic football campaign.

Other quarter-final matches include hosts France facing Argentina, and Spain competing against Japan for a place in the semi-finals.