DAKAR (Senegal) - Cameroon's Indomitable Lions are 1-0 up in their FIBA AfroBasket 2025 qualifying campaign after seeing off Gabon 76-58 in a game of two halves.
The first quarter was a true testament to the differences in rankings (64th for Cameroon and 135th for Gabon) between the two Central African rivals, but the tide quickly changed, their opening brilliance ensuring a comfortable win for the former.
Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba shot back-to-back treys in the opening two minutes, giving Cameroon a 10-0 commanding lead that gave a glimpse of the rest of the encounter. Omar Siby made it 12-04 from the paint but his side still trailed 17-04 five minutes in as Samir Gbetkom knocked down the Indomitable Lions' third trey.
Lerry Rostand Essono Mvé made it a 10-point game at 17-07 from beyond the arc, Warene Moundounga-Moumbeki taking it further to 17-09 but Cameroon's annihilation continued as they dominated the quarter 28-12. Gabon played a better second quarter, restricting Alfred Roland Aboya's charges to 22 while scoring 18, 14 made in the last five minutes of the second period, to head to the halftime break trailing 50-30. The 20-point advantage proved crucial for Cameroon in a closer-fought second half.
TURNING POINT: Shooting 7-of-19 from behind the arc in the opening half gave coach Aboya's charges the momentum and a comfortable lead that ensured they remained grounded even as Jarode Meyet Aworet and Hermann Junior Boukosso Igouwe orchestrated a Gabonese comeback attempt in a 20-14 third quarter performance. A 12-08 final quarter sealed the victory for Cameroon.
HERO: Philbert Ateba may have been on the floor for just 11:41 minutes but his 4-of-6 in threes, all in the opening half ensured Cameroon put enough space between them and Gabon early on. Gbetkom and Tamenang Choh finished with a game-high 15 in efficiency, the latter coming three rebounds short of a double-double as he was Indomitable Lions' best scorer with 13. Gbetkom contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds and as many assists.
STATS DON'T LIE: A more than 20 percent difference on two-points conversion and a lowly 18.42 percent shooting for Gabon on threes proved detrimental for Gabon in their comeback attempt.
BOTTOM LINE: Cameroon get their AfroBasket campaign off to a winning start. However, being put to the test by Gabon makes for good talking points as the Group's highlight match against Senegal beckons.
WHAT THEY SAID: "It is hard to win at any level so we are happy for this but we know we have a lot to improve especially on rebounding and turning the ball over," coach Alfred Aboya said adding that the team has continued to improve but they are slightly below the levels he hopes them to be playing.
"We did not start well. We respected Cameroon a lot and that was a big problem in a competition like this. Our shooting was very low and we were not aggressive enough. We have adjustments to make, first being playing our game. We know how to play and just need to execute well," Wilfried Cédric Dongo, head coach Gabon.
FIBA