Africa’s greatest basketball side and 11 times title winners, Angola, almost fell to the sharp teeth of giant killers, Lions of Cameroon in a tensed second semi-final of the FIBA Afrobasket tournament in Luanda on Saturday night.
Angola won by a hard fought point with final scores of 74-73 in a match that was 73-73 at just 6 seconds to go.
Cameroon which defeated defending champions, Tunisia in their first game of the tournament will never be forgotten by players, team handlers and fans of Angola even as shown by the cover photo.
Cameroon came bubbling as they took the 1st quarter 21-16 and Angola rose to take the 2nd quarter 21-17 before half time ended with 38-37 for Cameroon.
Cameroon went smoking taking the 3rd quarter 21-15 but the rookies in Angolan players rose till the game was interrupted when it was 72-71 in favor of Angola with 8 seconds left on the watch.
Maintaining the champions guts had been a great challenge to Angola that fought like trojans in every game. Cape Verde almost tripped the champions but Angola won the quarterfinals 90-80.
Angola had beaten Tunisia 73-62; whipped Libya 85-53; shoved Guinea 84-68 and humbled South Sudan 66-64.
Cameroon out dunked defending champions, Tunisia 86-56; out played Madagascar 80-72; lost to Nigeria 90-99; defeated D. R. Congo 77-68 and out smarted the Pharaohs of Egypt in the quarterfinals 95-68.
Both countries had met four times with Angola winning all but the Cameroonians ranked 63 with 10 appearances at Afrobasket games won the Silver once in 2017 and placed 4th twice in 1974 and 2009. That is all about Cameroon.
Angola ranked 33 is the most decorated male basketball team in Africa having won 11 times; bagged the Silver 4 times and got the Bronze twice.
At 4pm, Senegal will square up against Cameroon for the Bronze while Angola will enter into battle royal against Mali in the quest for the 12th title at 7pm on Sunday.
