Morocco edge Democratic Republic of Congo in overtime to qualify for Second Round

CAIRO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Morocco has qualified to the Second Round of the African Qualifiers following their 61-58 hard fought victory against Democratic Republic of Congo after overtime in the most dramatic tie so far. 

The Leopards had control of their destiny under two minutes in the last quarter with an eight-point lead but were deterred by complacency when they tried to run down the clock and failed to make it count on offence. 

Morocco punished them and a Zakaria El Masbahi three-pointer on the buzzer tied the game at 51-all and when the clock restarted for overtime, it was the North Africans that were meaning business. 

A series of turnovers meant that the Congolese remained under pressure and indeed it took the experience of captain Adil El Makssoud and Abderrahim Najah to open up a gap and eventually snatch victory from the hands of their opponents who came so close but yet so far. 

The victory means that Morocco along with the reigning African champions Tunisia, Angola, Cameroon and Nigeria have booked their place in the Second Round of the African Qualifiers. 

 FIBA