In a thrilling contest that highlighted the growing talent in West African basketball,CRBT of Mali emerged victorious over AS Douanes of burkina Faso,securing a vital win in the ongoing championship.The final score of 56-46 reflects a game where defensive grit and timely offensive execution ultimately separated the two sides.

The match, part of a single-pool championship featuring four teams-Al Alhy (Benghazi), Federal Center (Guinea), CRBT (Mali), and AS Douanes (Burkina Faso)-saw CRBT maintain a consistent advantage for much of the game. The top two finishers from this pool will earn coveted spots in the Elite 16 of the West division, making every victory a important step towards advancement.

AS Douanes, the champions from Burkina Faso, found themselves trailing by nine points at 45-36. In an attempt to close the gap, they resorted to three-point attempts that unluckily did not find the bottom of the net. This offensive drought proved costly, as CRBT capitalized on the opportunity to extend their lead to 47-36 in the third quarter, a momentum swing that proved difficult for AS Douanes to overcome.

The fourth quarter saw a renewed effort from AS Douanes, led by coach Mamadou Sawadogo, affectionately known as mike. Within the first two minutes, they managed to trim the deficit to 47