Which teams will secure their tickets to Angola as we head into the final window of the AfroBasket qualifiers?The final window for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers is fast approaching, and with it the scramble for qualifying spots for the tournament in Angola (12-24 August).
FIBA.basketball looks at 10 intriguing encounters that could decide the fate of the qualifiers.
The final 30 games of this year’s AfroBasket qualifiers will be played in Antananarivo (Madagascar), Rabat (Morocco) and Tripoli (Libya) from 21-23 February.
Libya v Nigeria – 21 February 2025, 19:00 Local Time: 21:00 (GMT+2)
A massive 89-82 overtime win over Nigeria in Monastir in February 2024 is certainly a big reason for the Libyans to feel confident against a Nigeria team that is yet to win a game and not think about missing out on the AfroBasket 2025 bandwagon.
The Libyans will take to their home court with confidence, ready to inflict even more misery on the D’Tigers.
Central African Republic v Egypt – 21 February 2025, 11:00 Local Time: 14:00 (GMT+3)
What makes this meeting so intriguing is the fact that Central African Republic, a team that hasn’t missed a single edition of the AfroBasket over the past two decades, are on the brink of elimination after going 0-3 in the first window of qualifying.
On the other hand, Egypt, now under the tutelage of former Egyptian international Mohamed Mounir El-Kerdany, who replaced Henrik Rödl, look ready for a fresh start and a 3-0 record in Antananarivo is a must for El-Kerdany, whose last appearance as a player in AfroBasket was in Madagascar in 2011.
Egypt have the edge with a first-leg win over Central African Republic. The North Africans are the more polished side in terms of talent and style of play and have the numbers in this encounter.
DR Congo v Morocco – 22 February 2025, 17:00 Local Time: 18:00 (GMT+1)
When Morocco and DR Congo met in Dakar last November, the latter prevailed 74-65 in a game that featured 12 lead changes and an intense battle in the paint.
In that game, Morocco swatted away four DR Congo shots, raising the inevitable question of whether the hosts will allow themselves to fall short again.
The Congolese sit top of Group A with a remarkable 3-0 record, while a desperate Morocco are 0-3.
The team from the heart of Africa have put themselves in a good position to qualify for AfroBasket 2025, but Morocco could still have something to say about it.
Madagascar v Central African Republic – 23 February 2025, 13:00 Local Time: 16:00 (GMT+3)
The Malagasy got the better of Central African Republic in the first window of the AfroBasket qualifiers in Egypt last year.
With the game being played at the island nation’s home venue, the Mahamasina, a raucous crowd can be expected and Ankoay will be looking to feed off that energy to get the win.
Angola v Tunisia – 23 February 2025, 13:00 Local Time: 15:00 (GMT+2)
The only clash between teams that have already tasted the AfroBasket title is definitely a MUST-WATCH.
These two teams have clashed countless times over the past 15 years, and with this year’s African Championship being hosted by Angola, the series in Tripoli could be a preview of what is to come later in the year.
When Tunisia and Angola met in the Tunisian coastal city of Monastir in February 2024, the Angolans outscored the reigning AfroBasket champions in the first and fourth quarters, but a 15-point deficit in the third quarter proved costly for the 11-time African champions as Tunisia held on for a morale-boosting 82-73 victory in front of their home fans.
Southern Africa’s Angola are in this qualifier as a fine-tuning exercise.
As hosts of the 2025 AfroBasket, Angola need to be in good form. Tunisia will be looking to complete the double over Angola in these qualifiers.
Cameroon v Senegal – 23 February 2025, 14:00 Local Time: 14:00 (GMT 0)
The last time the two nations (Senegal and Cameroon) met at the AfroBasket Qualifiers in Dakar, it was a close encounter with Senegal emerging victorious.
Lions Teranga (Senegal) versus Indomitable Lions will be a battle for the top spot in Group C.
Senegal and Cameroon currently have one win apiece since the 2023 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nigeria, when Cameroon upset Senegal in the final to advance to the 2024 FIBA OQT.
Playing on neutral ground, this is anyone’s game.
Nigeria v Cape Verde – 23 February 2025, 16:00 Local Time: 18:00 (GMT+2)
Nigeria are 0-3 and facing on Cape Verde (3-0) on the final day of these qualifiers? Ouch! The D’Tigers MUST beat the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde, there is no other option.
However, this couldn’t have been a tougher challenge for Nigeria, a team who seemingly don’t know how to beat Cape Verde.
Here’s a brief history of the two teams:
2013 AfroBasket, 29 August 2013, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire: Cape Verde v Nigeria (79-76)
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, 26 November 2021, Benguela, Angola: Cape Verde v Nigeria (79-71)
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, 1 July 2022, Kigali, Rwanda: Cape Verde v Nigeria (79-70)
2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers, Monastir, 25 February 2024, Tunisia: Cape Verde v Tunisia (78-62)
Egypt vs Cote d’Ivoire – 23 February 2025, 16:00 Local Time: 19:00 (GMT+3)
It was a clear disappointment for Egypt as they allowed Côte d’Ivoire to escape with a 79-76 victory in their own backyard in the first Group D in February 2024 in Cairo.
Egypt did almost everything right: They shot 12-for-23 from behind the arc, swatted away 10 Côte d’Ivoire shots and led by as many as seven at one point, but their free-throw shooting proved to be their Achilles heel.
The Pharaohs shot an abysmal 14-for-25 from the charity stripe, ultimately squandering their chances as Côte d’Ivoire finished the first round of the group with a respectable 3-0 mark while Egypt are 2-1.
So what was behind Côte d’Ivoire’s victory over Egypt? Rebounding! The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire dominated the paint with a 46-33 rebounding advantage.
What comes next? That’s the answer everyone’s waiting for. Stay tuned to find out.
Morocco v Mali – 23 February 2025, 17:00 Local Time: 17:00 (GMT 0)
For starters, this is a must-win for both sides.
A lot will have happened by the time Mali face them on 23 February, with the top two spots in Group A likely to be decided by then, but that doesn’t diminish the interest in this game.
Morocco and Mali got off to a slow start in the first qualifying round in Senegal last year.
Morocco, the Atlas nation, go into the final round without a win and will be hoping to get their campaign back on track ahead of their clash with Mali.
The Malians picked up their only win against the same opponents and will be looking to add to their misery. It will be a tight encounter.
DR Congo v South Sudan – 23 February 2025, 20:00 Local Time: 20:00 (GMT 0)
Has there been a bigger upset in the first round of these qualifiers than DR Congo’s 76-69 win over South Sudan in Dakar? Probably not.
At the time, South Sudan head coach Luol Deng was defiant, promising a better performance in February 2025.
We shall see.
The final round will determine whether Congo are the real deal, and they can expect a backlash from South Sudan.
The East Africans will be keen to prove that their new-found giant status is no fluke, and beating DR Congo can go a long way to reaffirming South Sudan’s basketball status.
SOURCE: FIBA
