AFROBASKET - Bracket throws up mouthwatering encounters

ANTANANARIVO (Afrobasket) - Armando Costa's three-pointer in Angola's 75-61 win over Morocco was the last point scored before the end of the Afrobasket group stage, and the beginning of the knock-out round.

However, by that time the full knock-out bracket had already been known for some time.

With all 16 teams carrying through to the Eighth-Finals, the first round was all about jostling for position.

The top placed finishers of all four groups - Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal and Tunisia - will fancy their chances against the four bottom placed teams - Chad, Togo, Madagascar and South Africa.

Anything but a win for the four unbeaten teams would constitute a real shock.

More difficult to call are the games between second and third. Egypt's game with the Central African Republic arguably being the most exciting game of the round.

Angola play Mozambique, Ivory Coast face Rwanda and Mali come up against Morocco.

Although ultimately all teams advanced by default to the second round, Senegal's historic win over Angola is of enormous importance, as two of the strongest teams in the tournament, Cameroon and Angola, are now almost certain to meet in the Quarter Final.

Cameroon, who have looked excellent from day one, must condemn Angola to a second defeat, something that hasn't happened at Afrobasket since 1985.

Either way, one of Africa's powerhouses are going out and with it, will see their Olympic dreams end prematurely.

FIBA