CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (France) – On 4 July 2024, at Arena Riga, in Latvia, Cameroon wrote a historic chapter in their basketball history.
The Central African country faced Brazil for the first time ever and prevailed 77-74 in one of the four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT) played in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics.
After fishing 0-2 in the 2008 OQT in Athens, Greece, Cameroon recorded their first-ever win in the history of the competition in the Latvian capital. Cameroon finished 1-2.
A game of David against Goliath that would unfold in Latvia, on the European continent.
Prior to the OQT, Brazil and Cameroon experienced different fortunes in their last continental appearances.
While Brazil finished second at 2022 FIBA AmeriCup, Cameroon could only reach the OQT after a successful campaign in the 2023 Pre-OQT held in Lagos, Nigeria, where Cameroon finished 4-0, upsetting 2021 AfroBasket bronze medalists Senegal 80-74 in the Final.
Cameroon started their Latvian trip with a 70-66 loss to Montenegro on 3 July. It was the next day that history would unravel. Facing Brazil, who was 1-0 after an 81-72 win over Montenegro, Cameroon knew they had to win if they wanted to make it to the Semi-Finals.
And they did just that, though they had to sweat for the ticket to the Last Four. Towards the end of the first quarter, Brazil’s Vitor Benite gave his side a seemingly comfortable 27-22 lead.
It was at that moment that Cameroon showed why they are nicknamed the Indomitable Lions. They entered a remarkable 23-0 run. And though Brazil closed a 24-point gap, Jeremiah Hill’s performance – 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal for a team-high 22 in efficiency – was more than enough to book a ticket to the Semi-Final slot.
The echoes of celebration from Cameroon’s victory over Brazil at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga still linger for the France-based guard. For a team seen as the underdog, this triumph wasn’t just about a win. It became their statement, a moment of validation on the international basketball stage.
This game against Brazil was more than just another contest. It was a stepping-stone to their dream. "This win meant so much to us. We set out with a goal, to go and qualify for the Olympics and that helped us get one step closer to that opportunity. It also helped us know we could play at that level," Hill told FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview.
The team approached the game with a grounded attitude. No drastic changes to their preparation or mindset. "We treated it the same as every game. We went to the arena with the intention to win," Hill added.
As underdogs, they did not feel the pressure. "We were not even expected to win a game," he admitted. With this freedom came the possibility of playing their game, with swift transitions. "This is how we won the first half, and ultimately the game."
Brazil, with their storied basketball history, seemed caught off guard by Cameroon’s relentless pressure. "As soon as we walked on the floor, we knew it was possible," Hill remembers.
By the time Cameroon built a comfortable lead, their focus shifted to maintaining composure. Hill, who scored 17 points and contributed 4 assists in the first half of the game, became a national hero when he scored a clutch three-pointer in the final minute of the game. As the final buzzer sounded, the emotions were overwhelming.
"We were elated, excited. We felt every happy emotion one could feel," he recalls, saying they dubbed themselves as "party crashers."
From then on, their self-confidence skyrocketed. "This win shows anything can be done," one player reflected, encapsulating the significance of their journey. But they fell short against hosts Latvia, suffering a grueling 72-59 loss, where Hill could not repeat his precedent feat.
"We had some guys down with injuries and fatigue. It was the sum of a lot of variables. It was tough."
Though they could not achieve their Olympic dream, Cameroon’s outlook remains optimistic, and their resolve stronger than ever. "We will be back and have another chance to make it happen," underlined the 6'2" ft (188 cm) tall shooting guard, his sights set on the next opportunity to shine.
FIBA