Angola returned to the summit of African basketball after dismantling Mali 70-43 to claim the AfroBasket title for the first time in twelve years.
Inside the packed 12,700-seater Kilamba Arena, Angolan fans roared their team on from tip-off to final buzzer, and when their side opened up a 20-point lead in the third quarter, it was clear that Mali’s fairytale run to their first-ever final had hit a dead end.
Childe Dudao was Angola’s standout performer, dropping 16 points and earning MVP chants from the home fans in the fourth quarter. His teammate Selton Miguel also impressed, finishing with 12 points.
For Mali, Siriman Kanoute’s 14 points and Aliou Diarra’s 11 offered little consolation as they struggled to cope with Angola’s relentless defence.
The victory capped a flawless campaign for the Angolans, who stormed through the tournament unbeaten (6-0). Mali, on the other hand, concluded their historic run with a 4-3 record. Remarkably, their 43 points in the final marked the lowest tally by any team in an AfroBasket final in over 30 years.
Nigeria’s D’Tigers Bow Out, Eye World Cup Qualifiers
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s senior men’s team, D’Tigers, are expected back in the country today, August 25, after bowing out in the quarter-finals of the same tournament.
Led by coach Mohammed Abdulrahman, D’Tigers saw their journey halted last Wednesday in a 91-75 defeat to regional rivals Senegal. Despite the exit, the squad had to remain in Angola until their scheduled departure date of August 25, with some players reportedly footing their own bills to leave earlier.
During the group stage, Nigeria had looked promising, topping Group B with wins over Madagascar, Tunisia, and Cameroon. Players such as Caleb Agada, Josh Okogie, Stan Okoye, and Ike Nwamu were standouts in a campaign that showed glimpses of potential but fell short against the Senegalese side.
Now, the focus shifts quickly to November, when Nigeria will begin their qualification bid for the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Qatar. D’Tigers last featured in the global showpiece in 2019 under Alex Nwora.
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