26th Afrobasket: Tunisia Road to Glory

Tunisia senior national team Africa new Lord of the Rim began its quest to rule the slamming and dunking on August 18, 2011 in Group-D the group that comprises Central Africa Republic, Rwanda and Togo.
 
The Coach Adel Tlatli tutored side started with a 103 – 56 points spanking of new comer Togo a results that set them on the road to the podium two days later (August 20) the Tunisia again took the centre stage with a 69 – 37 points wroughting of Rwanda and completed its unbeaten run with a 65 52 points victory over Central Africa Republic on August 22.
 
Having qualified as the leader of group-D the magreb nation was pitched against last team from group-B South Africa whom it decision with ease by 94 – 50 points in the Eight Final Round or second round the Tunisian continue from where they left off with an 86 – 67 points victory over fellow North African Morocco on August 25.
 
It was the turn of 2009 edition runner-up Cote d’Ivoire to be dispatched by the Tunisian on its road to glory in the semi finals as it recorded a slim 60 – 57 points win over the FIBA Africa Zone-3 side in a pulsating game on Saturday August 27 a win which set up against Ten-time champion Angola who stopped its ambition in the semi-final of the 2009 edition in Tripoli, Libya.
 
Tunisia who made it to the 2010 FIBA World Championship for the first time having conquered Cameroon in the third place game was set to take its pound of flesh against its 2009 semi final foe Angola in the grand finale at the packed full Palais des Sport arena in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
 
Ranked 37 in the world and 5th in Africa, Tunisia surely knows that the winner get automatic ticket to the London 2012 Olympic Games Tunisia went out against the former champion, Angola ranked 13th in the world and number one in Africa from the jump-ball to the buzzer winning three of the four quarters to take its first African title by 67-56 points leaving Angola and Nigeria two Africa basketball giant to try their luck in the playoffs of the basketball event of the 2012 Olympic Games.
 
Tunisia did not stop at winning the Special 2011 Afrobasket as the continental ruling body FIBA Africa marked its 50th years of it existence annexed almost all the available individual honours as three of its players made the continental Top-5 with Salah Mejri who recently penned down a deal at Antwerp basketball club of Belgium among the Top-5. Mejri also claim the 2011 Afrobasket Most Valuable Player award displacing Joaquim Gomes of Angola.
 
Other Tunisian players who mounted the podium as Africa Top-5 award winner include power forward Macram Ben Romdhane and point guard Marouan Kechride while Nigeria Ime Udoka and Angola Carlos Morais completing the Top-5 honour roster. Senegalese duo Mouhammad Faye and Malick Badiane won the highest scorer, highest three pointer and highest rebounder awards.