PRETORIA (South Africa) - The FIBA U18 AfroBasket has seen days of exciting competition come and go, and the tournament braces for the exciting stage of the final eight.
Thursday's Quarter-Final will see intriguing storylines. The U18 tournament's storied nations and holders of six titles each - Egypt (the defending champions) and Nigeria - will try to take another step toward adding a seventh crown.
Four-time winners Angola and Mali (two titles) will aim to establish themselves among powerhouses. Senegal, Morocco, Rwanda and Cameroon will attempt to rise from the status of dark horses.
FIBA.Basketball analyses the upcoming Quarter-Final fixtures at the University of Pretoria.
Morocco vs Angola - Local Time: 12:30 (GMT+2)
The first duel sees Morocco test the mettle of Angola. Rayane Solhi (18.7 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per game) and Omar Karem (15.3 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game and two assists per game) are the stars of this Moroccan team. If they get going, Morocco will be hard to stop. The North African's strong point is getting points in the paint (42) and the fastbreak (14.3).
Angola captain Aginaldo Neto is the sharp point of his country's attack. The point guard likes to take on opposition defenses, and should he spot an opening, Angola can always be guaranteed a bucket. He's averaged 17.7 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game.
Mateus Abraem has also been a key player for Angola alongside Neto. He's equally carried the load with his 17.3 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game and 1.3 assists, and the Moroccans will have to look out for him on their scouting report. The Southern African's bench is a factor, contributing 16 points per game, while they also know how to apply pressure in defense, which has paid off (24.3 points from turnovers and 15.7 second chance points from fas-tbreaks).
Rwanda vs Cameroon - Local Time: 15:00 (GMT+2)
Rwanda and Cameroon have impressed in this competition. Hopefully, their match will be one for the ages.
Rwanda showed they have options in attack, starting with Dylan Kayijuka, a leading scorer of the competition (21.3 points per game). Then there is their sniper, Sean Mwesigwa, who averages 17.7 points per game and Jayden Rushema (9.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and two assists per game).
Rwanda has relied on points from turnovers (32 points per game), points in the paint (21.7 points per game) and their bench, which has contributed (19 points per game).
Cameroon will have to shake off their final group game loss against Senegal and turn their attention to Rwanda. Dan Ejenguele leads the Central African nation in scoring (12 points per game). Big man Amadou Seini is also a force in the paint - he has delivered 10.3 points per game and 13 rebounds. The Cameroonians are strong on the fastbreak - posting 13 points per game. Second-chance points are a plus for them as they posted 19.7 points per game.
Egypt vs Senegal - Local Time: 17:30 (GMT+2)
The road to Egypt's title defense begins against Senegal. Egypt will try to pick themselves up following a final group game loss to Angola.
Leading scorer Mahomed Hussin (12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, five assists), dribbling wizard Mohamed Shahin (9 points, five rebounds, and 1.3 assists), Omar Mowafak (10.7 points, and seven rebounds) are kind of pieces coach Ahmed Elgarhi can call on to do the job.
The Egyptians are a team that thrives on points in the paint (34 points per game) and second-chance points (13.3 per game).
Senegal have to bring their A-game against a wounded Egypt team out for redemption. With players like Ousseynou Sambe (12.3 points per game and six rebounds) and Cheikh Biteye (11.3 points and 2.7 rebounds), Senegal will have a puncher's chance to subdue Egypt.
The Senegalese have a solid bench that has contributed 42.3 points per game - they are equally competitive with Egypt on points in the paint. Most of their points come from fastbreaks (14.3 points) and turnovers (23.3 points per game).
Mali v Nigeria - Local Time: 20:00 (GMT+2)
This encounter will be a heavyweight clash as both teams are blessed with guards and bigs.
Youssouf Traore (11 points and 17 rebounds) has been a dominant force for the Malian and against the Nigerian, they will need their mobile big man to assert himself. Sekou Bagayoko (14.7 points, four rebounds and 1.3 assists) and Mamadou Traore (11.3 points per game and 3.7 rebounds) give the Sahel nation attacking options.
Mali has relied on bench points (18.3 points per game) and second-chance points (21.7 points).
Azeez Sulaimon has been among the best performers in the tournament. The point guard is fearless and a dynamo for the J'Tigers. His 18 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists have helped bring Nigeria this far and another starring performance can take the men in green further.
Isaac Ezekial is another special talent within the Tigers' arsenal, his 15 points and nine rebounds have contributed to Nigeria's successful run. Nigeria likes to impose itself in the paint and has posted 32.7 points per game. Points from turnovers (26 points per game) and fastbreaks (19 points per game) have been a staple for Nigeria.
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