History made as Guinea upset Egypt to win the 2023 FIBA U16 African Championship
Guinea are the new kings of the 2023 FIBA U16 Championship. For a second time in this championship, they humbled the five-time champions winning the Final game 84-76.
MONASTIR (Tunisia) - Guinea made history on Sunday by becoming the new winners of the FIBA U16 African Championship.
It's the first time - since 2013 - that a team not called Egypt or Mali wins the Championship.
Angola, who won the tournament a decade ago, finished fourth this time round while Guinea won the FIBA U16 African Championship in their first appearance in the Final.
The 84-76 win was Guinea's second victory over Egypt in this year's tournament. It followed an 83-78 victory in the Group Phase.
Five-time winners of the tournament Egypt led 48-44 at the break; they enjoyed a 15-point lead in the third quarter, but Guinea responded with a 26-0 run in the fourth quarter to shock Egypt, and, deservedly, clinch their first-ever African championship title.
Guinea's shooting guard Karanmadi Gassama led the floor with 25 points, Nour Gassim Toure added 22, and Araphan Diane recorded his seventh straight double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Ali Assran led Egypt with 17 points while the duo of Mohamed Wael and Nour Elsawy scored 14 points apiece.
Guinea closed the 2023 FIBA U16 African Championship with a 7-0 record while Egypt return home with a 5-2 mark
MALI TAKE CONSOLATION BRONZE
Five-time finalist in the FIBA U16 African championship Mali fought the battle of their lives to finish third in this year's edition of the tournament after they beat Angola 63-56
Mali started the first quarters comfortably winning 14-10 and 21-11 to go into the break with 35-21 advantage but Angola came back stronger in the last two quarters 20-19 and 15-9 but it was not strong enough to change the advantage of Mali.
Mali's usual culprit Sambala Sissoko hurt Angola as he registered 18 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists; Mamadou Diop added 14 points and 18 rebounds to deny Angola second chance scoring opportunities.
Mali guard Chectare Baradji told FIBA.basketball that the bronze medal was better than not getting anything at all. "This win has come as compensation for our efforts. Though we wanted to play in the final but that didn't happen. Being on the podium is great."
Angola coach, Jaime Covilha and his wards did give Mali a run for their money as Garcia N'Thonia, who played all 40 minutes, scored 17 points and Celestino Augusto contributed 12 points and 14 rebounds.
RWANDA FINISH FIFTH
Rwanda on Sunday equaled their 2019 position by finishing fifth in the 2023 FIBA U16 African Championship.
The East Africans beat Cote d'Ivoire 74-62.
Rwanda turned out the better side as team captain Sean Williams drilled a game-high 23 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists to give Rwanda the advantage.
Ivan Mugabo added 15 points, 17 rebounds an 4 assists while Joseph Nshimiye scored 1o points, 5 rebound and 8 assists for the side.
Though, Rwanda won the game, Coach Patrick Habiyaremye commended his players for keeping the Ivorians in check.
On the part of Cote d'Ivoire, Amadou Bah was responsible for the team's high as he scored 17 points while just as Mamadou Sako added 15 points to help his country finish in 6th place.
DETERMINED CHAD GRAB SEVENTH PLACE
Coach Ndoumbe Belemgoto may not have achieved the 4th place finish he attained at the 2021 edition as he came short this time around with a 7th place finish but the way he and his wards snatched victory over Morocco was deserved.
Chad grabbed the win from Morocco with less than 48 seconds left and held on to the end the game 75-74 to push Morocco to the 8th place.
Host Tunisia managed a 68-65 win over Uganda to place 9th while the latter finished 10th.
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