MAD - Few surprises after first round of group games

ANTANANARIVO (Afrobasket) - With all 16 teams having their first game in Madagascar, it's Africa's usual powerhouses sitting on top of the four opening round groups.

With all sixteen teams certain to participate in the Eighth Final round, the group stages are all about ensuring the easiest run in to the latter stages of the tournament.

Opening their accounts with the most emphatic wins were the two 2009 finalists, Angola and Ivory Coast, who both surpassed the 100-point mark on their way to victories over Chad and South Africa respectively.

The proven duo of Carlos Morais and 2009 MVP Joaquim Gomes combined for 40 points, looking as though they will once again lead the way for Angola, while Ivory Coast saw Guy Edi and rookie Mamadi Diane - with 17 points in 18 minutes - lead the scoring.

Filling places three and four in 2009 were Tunisia and Cameroon, who also got off to winning starts over Togo and Egypt, will be eyeing up Semi Final places again, giving themselves a chance of Olympic dreams.

Cameroon guard Parfait Bitee, who caught everyone eye against some top teams at the Olympic Qualifying tournament three years ago, looked unstoppable with his 27 points - including 5/5 from beyond the arc - three rebounds and seven assists.

Teams to look out for are Senegal and Nigeria, whose true value will only be known when they come up against heavyweight opposition.

For Senegal this will come Saturday as they face Angola for Group D supremacy, while Nigeria, who look likely to run away with group A, have the chance to set up what could be a smooth route to the semi-finals.

If the established order looks determined not to give and inch, a team lurking is the shadows is the Central African Republic, who in spite of the absence of 2009 All Star Five Romain Sato blew away Rwanda. Tunisian based centre James Mays, marked his first major appearance for his country with 24 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.

Afrobasket 2011 is still waiting for its for upset, but in view of some of the raw talent on show, it may not be too long.

FIBA