Afrobasket 2021: Tunisia champion against Ivory Coast

Tunisian pivot Salah Mejri wins Afrobasket 2021 against Matt Costello's Ivory Coast.

© Courtesy of FIBA

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

2 min

The Tunisian team retained its title of African men's basketball champion on September 5 in Kigali.

The Tunisians beat Côte d'Ivoire 78-75 in the final of the Afrobasket 2021. A little earlier, Senegal took 3rd place in the tournament against Cape Verde (86-73).

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Tunisians remain the masters of African basketball.

They won the Continental Nations Championship (Afrobasket 2021), this September 5 in Kigali.

In the final of the Afrobasket 2021, they beat 78-75 a valiant Ivorian selection, but collectively dominated.

Ivorians who are forcing

The illustration is the ease with which Tunisia scores points during this match, while Côte d'Ivoire must force its way to each basket scored or almost (25-18 at the end of the first quarter time) .

Even the exit of the Tunisian pivot Salah Mejri for 3 faults, during the second quarter time, does not allow the Ivorians to get back in the game.

Without a 3-point basket put just before the break by playmaker Souleymane Diabaté (47-34), the second period could even have taken a different turn.

A precious Michael Roll

During the third quarter time, the Elephants are unleashed.

They thus pass a 10-2 to the Eagles of Carthage.

In the process, the pivot Salah Mejri still temporarily leaves the field, visibly affected in the right ankle.

But too many Ivorian ball losses and a very skilful Michael Roll (4/7 to 3 points) allow Tunisia to keep a safety margin (65-59).

At the end of the fourth quarter time, Côte d'Ivoire returned to three lengths thanks to an exceptional 3-point basket (with a free throw in addition) from Diabaté.

But the Ivorian selection must be satisfied with the silver medal, as in 2009. The Mejri-Ben Romdhane generation, she won the third male Afrobasket in the history of Tunisia, after those of 2011 and 2017.

Senegal third

Earlier this Sunday, Senegal won third place in the competition.

The Senegalese beat the Cape Verdeans 86-73 thanks in particular to 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists from pivot Gorgui Dieng.

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