Who will be crowned African Champions? It's Final Day at #FIBAU18Africa 2018
BAMAKO (FIBA U18 African Championship 2018) - The two best two teams at #FIBAU18Africa 2018 are set to do battle for the right to be crowned Africa champions on Sunday in the Malian capital city of Bamako.
BAMAKO (FIBA U18 African Championship) - The two best two teams at FIBA U18 African Championship 2018 are set to do battle for the right to be crowned Africa champions on Sunday in the Malian capital city of Bamako.
Senegal on Saturday dispatched Egypt in an electrifying Semi-Final that required an overtime to reach the final undefeated in six games.
On the other hand, hosts Mali demolished then-defending champions Angola to reach the Championship game.
Abdoul Coulibaly's highlights at half-time are 🔥🔥
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 1, 2018
📈 10pts, 12 reb, 3ast so far! @BasketMalien 🇲🇱
Watch LIVE the #FIBAU18Africa Semi-Final action: https://t.co/K3mUDMcJo3 pic.twitter.com/hMRZt8Ms9b
Mali - who cruised past all their seven opponents in front of a rowdy home crowd - will try and win their first-ever U18 Championship title.
This is clearly the most anticipated game in the tournament.
Six years since their last appearance at the FIBA U18 African Championship in Maputo, where they lifted the continental title, Senegal emerge as the most capable team to try and prevent Mali from winning the 2018 edition of the FIBA U18 African Championship.
Birame Faye - an all-round forward - has been Senegal's most important player, doing a bit of everything.
Senegal's Biram Faye ('00) is far and away the best player at the U18 African Championship. He's averaging 29.4 PTS, 19.9 REB + 4.2 BLK per-40 while shooting 62% for 2 and 33% for 3 (24 attempts). 6-9, long, tough big w/instincts on D and a much improved skill set. pic.twitter.com/qkXjid79V3
— NBADraftProspects (@draftprosnba) September 1, 2018
The 18-year-old heads to the final after recording five double-doubles, but, if the Senegalese are to lift the top prize for the second time, Faye will need extra support from Amar Sylla and Jean-Jacques Boissy to overcome a highly-talented Mali team.
Oumar Ballo with the rim protection ⛔⚠#FIBAU18Africa @BasketMalien 🇲🇱 pic.twitter.com/8RzqFjlKVe
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 1, 2018
Mali's trio of Siriman Kanoute, Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, and Fousseyni Drame have played a major role throughout the tournament, and, surely, Mali's destiny lies on their hands.
Watch the game live here:
Meanwhile, Angola will take on Egypt in the third-place game, while DR Congo meet Rwanda in the fifth-place game for the second time in a row. Tunisia will square off against Libya in the 7-8 place match up.
FIBA