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Ivory Coast-Tunisia in the final, Senegal beaten

Published on : 04/09/2021 – 19:03

The final of the African Nations Men’s Basketball Championship (Afrobasket 2021) will pit Côte d’Ivoire against Tunisia on September 5 in Kigali. The Tunisians beat Cape Verde 75-65 in the Afrobasket 2021 semi-final on September 4, while the Ivorians dismissed the Senegalese by the same score.

This is an unseen poster in the Afrobasket final. And it might not be the one African basketball fans expected the most. But it is the Ivorians who will challenge the Tunisians, reigning African champions, this Sunday, September 5 at the Kigali Arena.

Despite an omnipresent Gorgui Dieng

The Elephants clinched their place in the final of the competition for the first time since 2009 (82-72 loss to Angola), after a tough semi-final against Senegal. The two best attacks of this 2021 edition were indeed particularly clumsy during this very physical meeting.

The Ivorian selection led the race for most of the game. However, she had to work to push back a Senegalese selection back in the game after a 3-point basket from Gorgui Dieng in the 4th quarter. Despite Dieng’s big game (24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, but sent off for jostling Matt Costello), the Lions therefore folded.

Côte d’Ivoire will try to add a third Afrobasket to its list after those of 1981 and 1985.

Tunisia a step above Cape Verde

Earlier this Saturday, Tunisia got the better of Cape Verde 75-65. A score that does not however reflect the technical, tactical and experience superiority of the Tunisians during this semi-final.

The Cape Verdeans certainly opposed a lot of courage and a solid Walter Tavares. The pivot, who measures 2 meters 21, has accumulated 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. But that was not enough against the double-doubles of the back Michael Roll (19 points, 10 assists) and the strong winger Makram Ben Romdhane (16 points, 10 rebounds), as well as the contribution of leader Omar Abada (14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists). Not to mention the big defensive presence of pivot Salah Mejri (5 against and 2 steals, in addition to his 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists).

This Sunday, the Radhouane Slimane, Ben Romdhane and Mejri will try to defend their crown and win Tunisia’s third continental coronation, at Afrobasket, after those won in 2011 and 2017.

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