Who will secure the last four spots to the Quarter-Finals?
The eight contenders are set to do battle to remain in contention, in what is often described as their second chance to keep their FIBA AfroCan title alive
LUANDA (Angola) - Hosts Angola, DR Congo, Kenya and Tunisia qualified directly to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan Quarter-Finals after finishing on top of their groups, but who will secure the last four spots?
The Classification Round to the Quarter-Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, July 12 at Kilamba Arena in Luanda.
Games will be streamed live on FIBA's YOUTUBE CHANEL.
The eight contenders are set to do battle to remain in contention, in what is often described as their last chance to keep their FIBA AfroCan's title hope alive.
MOROCCO v CAMEROON (10:30 local time, GMT+1)
Cameroon beat Morocco twice during the 2019 FIBA Basketball African Qualifiers, which included a 63-57 win in Dec, 2018 in Luanda
AfroCan debutant Cameroon (0-2) lost their two Group D games against reigning champions DR Congo and Mozambique.
Morocco (1-1) had a promising start to the tournament after beating Rwanda, but overcoming Tunisia proved mission impossible.
At first glance there isn't a clear favourite although Morocco emerges with a slight and apparent advantage.
But this an elimination round and they should know that this is a tougher phase of the tournament.
And to remain in contention, Morocco - who finished fourth in the inaugural season of the tournament and count on some Africa household names of their rosters - should do better than they have done so far.
Cameroon averaged 64 points per game in the Group Phase while Morocco scored 55 points per game.
One lesson Cameroon should have learned so far is that making free-throws is a must-do task. Cameroon recorded the lowest free-throw average (50 percent).
The winner of this series will take on Kenya in the Quarter-Finals.
NIGERIA v GABON (13:00 local time, GMT+1)
Gabon averages 3.5 block shots per game
This in an interesting match-up in a sense that both teams came up short in the Group Phase after finishing 1-1 apiece.
Gabon, however, made a statement after shocking favourite Kenya in what was a huge morale booster for a team that had last competed at continental level at 2015 FIBA AfroBasket.
By scoring only 48 points against Angola, Nigeria hold the record for the fewest points scored in an AfroCan game.
And Gabon - a team that averages the highest block shots per game alongside Angola - may present another challenge for Nigeria.
The winner of this series will take on the reigning champions DR Congo in the Quarter-Finals.
MOZAMBIQUE v RWANDA (15:30 local time, GMT+1)
Pio Matos
This is probably the most unpredictable game of this round. Both teams are making their maiden appearances at AfroCan.
Although Mozambique won one of their two games and Rwanda lost all two of their games in the Group Phase, it's safe to say that this game could go either way.
The winner of this series will face Angola in the Quarter-Finals.
COTE D'IVOIRE v MALI (18:00 local time, GMT+1)
Cote d'Ivoire v Mali, July 21, 2019
These two West African teams are familiar to each other.
When Mali and Cote d'Ivoire met at 2019 FIBA AfroCan, hosts Mali prevailed 86-63.
However, Mali head to this clash with a 0-2 record while Cote d'Ivoire are 1-1.
The Ivorians look more solid and might come up with a win.
The winner of this series will face Tunisia in the Quarter-Finals.
FIBA