MALABO (Equatorial Guinea) - Gabon became the last team to qualify to the 2024 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers after winning the two-game qualifying series against hosts Equatorial Guinea on Thursday in Malabo.

Despite Gabon's 46-39 loss to Equatorial Guinea on Gameday 2, they advance to the qualifying round thanks to their 66-58 win in the first game of the series. Gabon closed the playoff series with a 105-104 win on aggregate.

The home team wasted a massive opportunity of extending their lead to 48-39, which would have been enough to send them to the next round of the qualifiers, but Jose Antonio Nve Malena missed two free-throws with 46 seconds.

Equatorial had a second chance to score, but a turnover made things worse for Alejandro Paniagua's team, and, in desperation, Kingsley Obiekwe's mid-range jumper missed the target. 

Gabon players, despite the seven-point loss, rushed to the edge of the stands to celebrate with dozens of their fans. 

Juan Alberto Coffi's double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds combined with Kingsley Obiekwe Sam's 12 points and 11 rebounds proved insignificant to Equatorial Guinea whose bench was outscored 14-3. 

Lerry Essono Mvé scored six of his team-high nine points from behind arc, while adding 8 rebounds.

The win means Gabon boosted their chances of trying to qualify to the FIBA AfroBasket for the first time since 2015.

Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, miss out the chance to return to the 20-national  AfroBasket Qualifier for the second time in a row.

Gabon have now joined Group C of the 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers which comprise Senegal, Cameroon and Rwanda. The group's opener is scheduled for November 2024.

FIBA