YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - Ruthless Gabon on Friday beat Equatorial Guinea 110-32 in the race to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan in a Zone 4 qualifier at the Palais Polyvalent des Sports, Yaounde. 

The Gabonese took apart their neighbour in all four quarters (24-7, 26-5, 27-15, 33-9) for the big win with forward Junior Loussi  posting a double-double of 26 points and 18 rebounds with an efficiency rating of 38.

With the win Gabon concluded their campaign at 3-1. They now wait for other results to find out where they finish in the regional qualifiers. 

Four other players Tracey Minko, Gaius Mewourou, Jarode Meyet Aworet and Dean Axel Bezazouma combined for 49 points for their side.

CHAD vs CAMEROON

The tension soaked match up between the Lions and 5th-place Chad in the maiden edition of AfroCAN kept fans at the edge of their seat during the entire duration of the game.

Cameroon prevailed in the first period 25-14 but the Chadian matched them strength for strength in the second quarter which ended 18 points apiece thus giving the Lions an 11 points advantage into the break.

Chad put up a strong fight in the third quarter with a 25-21 points win to reduce the margin to seven going into the decisive quarter, both sides gave fans plenty to cheer in the last ten minutes of the explosive battle.

But Cameroon to escape with 18-17 points final quarter win for cumulative score-line of 82-74.

Cameroon forward Anthony Van-Niels Ngoufanke Simo had double-doubles of 12 points and 11 rebounds while Etienne Tametong Kalume contributed 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, Engelbert Beleck added 13 points and 3 steals for their side big win.

Chad Bienvenu Djimassal's double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds meant nothing as his went down fighting.

Chad will battle Central Africa Republic at 15H30 while Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea will rap up proceeding here in Yaounde at 18H00

 FIBA