TUNIS (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Morocco became the ninth national team to qualify for the 16-team FIBA AfroBasket 2017 after beating Algeria 77-71 in Saturday's FIBA Africa Zone 1 qualifiers in Tunis.

Abderrahim Najah led Morocco with a game-high 22 points, Abdelhakim Zouita and Soufiane Kourodu combined for 26 points in the winning cause while Mehdi Cheriet, the only Algerian to score in double figures, finished with 19 points.

With the win, Morocco not only closed their FIBA Africa Zone 1 qualifiers with a 2-2 record, but they also reached the Final Round of the FIBA AfroBasket for the tenth straight time.

Algeria, on the other hand, head to Sunday’s game against hosts Tunisia with three defeats in as many games.

This year’s FIBA AfroBasket will take place in Congo-Brazzaville in August (19-30) and Morocco join Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Uganda, Mozambique, DR Congo, Tunisia and Cote d'Ivoire.

FIBA