PRETORIA (South Africa) - The biennial U18 AfroBasket is underway, and FIBA.basketball analyses six elements that have shaped the ongoing tournament in Tshwane, South Africa.
Aginaldo Neto and Mahommed Hussin are familiar faces of this year's FIBA U18 AfroBasket, having played in the previous edition two years ago in Madagascar, but a number of new names have added their names to the must-watch list.
The duo are among the stars who have emerged from the current tournament in South Africa.
Neto embraces leadership responsibility
Angolan player Neto, who calls the NBA Academy in Senegal, home, was a promising player in the 2022 tournament. At this year's U18 AfroBasket, he has assumed an even bigger responsibility as captain of the Angolan team.
The 18-year-old point guard, Neto, led from the front as Angola dismantled Group B opponents Uganda on Wednesday. His 28 points, three rebounds and three assists against the East Africans made the difference for Angola.
Also, one of Neto's highlights was his block on Uganda star player Tejan Rugette's layup attempt.
Can Hussin end the U18 chapter with a bang?
Egyptian player Hussin also has star quality written all over his name. The point guard has matured, and he is one of the leaders of this Young Pharaohs team.
He was part of the team that secured the title in 2022 and this year being his final in the U18 age group, adding a second would be an amazing feather on the cap for Hussin.
Against a strong Nigeria on Wednesday night, Hussin proved to be the difference-maker for Egypt with his 21-point performance. He also had five rebounds and four assists.
The 18-year-old made five threes against Nigeria, which were crucial for Egypt's first win and a step in the right direction in their title defence.
Morocco has the potential to be a surprise package
The Atlas nation has all the tools to secure a maiden U18 AfroBasket title. Nezah Mesbahi can rely on players like Omar Karem and Rayane Solhi as attacking weapons.
Morocco will face Rwanda, a country that is also strong, and a victory for the North Africans against their Group C opponents would improve championship credentials.
Siame makes impressive U18 AfroBasket debut
Zambia's Frank Siame may have been on the losing side against Morocco, but his 26 points and eight rebounds were something to write home about.
Siame had some impressive numbers. He was 7/13 in the paint and 6/7 from the free-throw line. The Zambian player also crashed six of his eight rebounds at the opposition's end.
How does the 2024 U18 AfroBasket rank in comparison to previous tournaments?
The 2024 tournament may have had some glitches here and there, but it has served up some great basketball so far.
The tournament is missing one element - fan attendance - something that the 2022 Madagascar tournament got right. Mahamamsina in the Malagasy capital, Antananarivo, was always packed to capacity when the national team played, which added extra spice to the atmosphere.
A remarkable feat about this year's tournament, however, is the fact, that for the first time, since 2008, all 12 qualified nations have attended it.
FIBA