Afrobasket 2021: Tunisia and Rwanda ensure, Cape Verde shower Angola
Tunisia beat Guinea in the opening match of Afrobasket 2021. © Courtesy of Fiba Africa
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3 min
Tunisia, reigning African champion, ideally launched its tournament and kicked off the Afrobasket 2021 by outclassing Guinea in the opening match (82-46).
Rwanda did not miss its meeting with its audience against the DRC while Cape Verde created a sensation by defeating Angola.
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The beginnings of the 60th anniversary celebration of FIBA Africa kicked off with a party in Rwanda, the 2021 hub of African basketball after hosting the Basketball African League in May.
The public of Kigali Arena, Rwanda's sporting jewel, must have appreciated the spectacle of the Carthage Eagles who flew over the opening match by disposing of Guinea (82-46).
Egypt did not tremble either against the Central African Republic (72-56) despite a glaring clumsiness at the start of the meeting.
The Pharaohs waited until the 5th minute to register their first basket indeed.
Hence a soporific first quarter ended with a score of 13-9 for the Egyptians.
Despite an indisputable victory, the Pharaohs will have to review their copy before facing Tunisia on Thursday for the shock of Pool A.
𝐑𝐖𝐀 🇷🇼 𝐯 𝐃𝐑𝐂 🇨🇩 - 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
It was raining 🌧 threes 3⃣s in @kigali_arena in this matchup between the host country and @LeopardsBasket!
Watch the higlights of that game, with Rwanda winning at home 🏠, 82-68! #AfroBasket # Celebrating60 pic.twitter.com/WcxypJK4Rx
- FIBA AfroBasket (@AfroBasket) August 24, 2021
Rwanda, the host country, has also entered its competition well by disposing of the DR Congo (82-68).
Finally the last match of the day resulted in the first big surprise for Afrobasket with the defeat of Angola against Cape Verde (71-77). At the end of the night at the end of extra time, the formation for the 11 African championship titles was overthrown by a Cape Verdean team which is participating for the seventh time only in Afrobasket. The meeting was marked by an interruption of play after Walter Tavares (2.21m, 118kg) smashed and damaged the hoop after a dunk worthy of Shaquille O'Neal.
This Wednesday place, group B with in particular Nigeria and Senegal, two contenders for the final victory.
The Lions, who have been running behind a coronation since 1997, hope to finally lift the trophy for a sixth time.
Their coach, Boniface Ndong believes in any case that the podium is a minimum for his men.
The podium would be the minimum
Boniface Ndong, Senegal coach
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To read also:
Afrobasket 2021: Results and Program
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