Afrobasket – Tunisia Beat Ivory Coast To Successfully Defend Title

Tunisia beat Ivory Coast 78-75 in the Rwanda capital Kigali on Sunday to defend the Afrobasket title they won in 2017.

The triumph marks the first back-to-back successes the North Africans have had in the tournament, and equals a feat previously achieved by Angola, Senegal and Egypt.

The Tunisians scored more in both opening quarters to lead 47-33 at half-time, after which the Ivorians, in only their second final since last winning the title in 1985, started to fight back.

Ignacio Lezcano Moya’s side won the two final quarters, narrowing the deficit to just six points at the end of the third quarter – a lead that was just three at the buzzer.

Salah Merji led the way for Tunisia, scoring 22 points with Michael Roll also contributing with 18, but it was captain Makram Ben Romdhane who was named the tournament’s the most valuable player of the tournament.

He singled out the harmony in the squad as a key factor in their success.

Two-time winners Ivory Coast, meanwhile, had to settle for second best, just as they did when last reaching the final in 2009.

Earlier on Sunday, Senegal took third place when beating Cape Verde 86-73 with Gorgui Dieng scoring 30 points for the five-time champions.

After making the semi-finals for only the second time, Cape Verde’s Joel Ameldia says they will keep fighting for a brighter future.