…D’Tigers Finish 5th
Mali produced a sensational five star performance to derail the dream of five time Afrobasket Champions,Senegal 88-80 to zoom into the final on Saturday in Luanda, Angola
Mali lost the 1st quarter 22-19, won the 2nd quarter 24-13 and retired for half time with 43-35 for Mali.
The resumption showed grit as Senegal lost the 3rd quarter narrowly 23-24 and won the 4th quarter 22-21 which was not enough to overhaul the Malians who are to play their first grand final ever in 20 appearances.
Mali ranked 80 in the world had only a Bronze won in 1972 as best performance, but got 4th position 5 times in 1968, 1987, 1989, 1992 and 1999.
Mali had lost to Egypt 59-74; beaten Uganda 85-72 and lost to same Senegal 70-80 at the group stages. In the play offs Mali beat Guinea 70-67 and decisioned Ivory Coast 102-96 in the quarterfinals.
Senegal wobbled and fumbled into the semifinal stage beating Nigeria 96-75 in the keenly contested quarterfinals after a 78-65 playoffs match. At the group stages Senegal beat Uganda 88-53; lost to Egypt 77-91 and defeated Mali 80-70. Now Mali had a sweat revenge.
Senegal ranked 42 had been 5 times champions in 29 appearances having won in 1968, 1972, 1978, 1980 and 1997. She won Silver 6 times, Won Bronze 6 times also and placed 4th four times. An impeccable record compared to that of Mali that conquered them on Saturday.
It is interesting to note that both countries had met six times with three games in FIBA Afrobasket games and Senegal won all matches.
The 3rd place match is at 4pm on Sunday 24th August before the finals at 7pm same day.
Meanwhile Nigeria is 5th on the final standing table of the competition; Egypt is 6th; Ivory Coast is 7th while Cape Verde is 8th.
By Eniola Olatunji .
