ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - With the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers just around the corner, it's time to look back an relive some colossal showdowns that marked the last edition of the tournament.

The first window of the African Qualifiers tips off in the Angolan city of Benguela on November 26 with eight teams divided into two groups (A and C) doing battles for places in the Second Phase. The African Qualifiers' second window will get underway in February 2022.

There will be a number mouthwatering games in the African Qualifiers, but before the five teams that will represent the continent in Indonesia, Japan and Philippines are found, here are five colossal games that entered the history books as unforgettable ones.

CAMEROON vs TUNISIA (67-66) Yaounde, 26 November 2017

The last edition of the African Qualifiers couldn't have started any better for Tunisia, who two months earlier had won their second FIBA AfroBasket after beating Nigeria in Rades, Tunisia.

But facing a highly-motivated Cameroon team, who hoped to maintain their connection with their fans and were chasing their first FIBA Basketball World Cup ticket, seemed a challenge for the ages for Tunisia.

In fact, Cameroon had several chances to upset the African champion: Williams Narace's three-pointer gave the hosts their first lead of the game (57-56) with 7:39' remaining; Jeremy Nzeulie followed it up with yet another three-pointer, sending Cameroon supporters inside the Palace Sportive in Yaounde into a frenzy, and the Lions went on to lead by six with 4:39' left . When Tunisia's skipper Makram Ben Romdhane fouled out later in the game, things looked even more promising for Cameroon.

But a succession of errors in the waning minutes of the game proved costly for Cameroon, giving Tunisia a chance to turn things around to win 67-66 and close the first window of the qualifiers with a 3-0 mark thanks to wins over Cameroon, Chad and Guinea. 

SENEGAL vs COTE D'IVOIRE (66-61) Dakar, 30 June 2018 

Every time Senegal and  Cote d'Ivoire face off, there's guarantee of a dogfight. When these two teams met in Dakar, in June 2018 for the Second Round of Group D, there was only question to be answered: Could Senegal end their losing streak against the 'Elephants' of Cote d'Ivoire?

Four months earlier, in the Mozambican capital of Maputo, the Ivoirians had edged Senegal 67-60 to extend their head-to-head advantage to 5-1 over the previous decade.

Senegal stepped on the floor knowing that protecting their home court was a MUST-DO task, and they did just that, beating Cote d'Ivoire 66-61.

ANGOLA vs CAMEROON (77-73), Luanda, 30 November 2018

Cameroon travelled to the Angolan capital Luanda hoping to win all their three remaining games to maintain their chances of advancing to China 2019 intact. At first, facing the home team seemed an uphill task, but It wasn't quite, as the Cameroon forced the Angolans to bring their A-game.

Led by then Angola-based Lazare Adie Ngono, who coached half of the Angolan squad at Petro de Luanda, Cameroon looked fearless, they challenged every ball possession and out-rebounded the home team 43-36. 

 
In a game that registered 14 lead changes, Olimpio Cipriano drove to the basket, attracting four defenders over him, leaving Carlos Morais wide open for a defining three-pointer with 24 seconds (77-71). The Cameroonians managed to cut the deficit, but it was a bit too late. Angola prevailed 77-73. 

EGYPT vs TUNISIA (73-64), Luanda, 1 December 2018

The Egypt vs Tunisia has become not only a North Africa derby but also an African classic in recent years.

When the two sides met in Luanda for their last games of the Second Round of the African Qualifiers, there was a lot at stake: Tunisia hoped to extend their African Qualifiers winning streak to 10-0, while Egypt looked to keep their China 2019's aspirations alive.

The result was a titanic battle that registered 22 lead changes with no team leading by more than eight points.  Egypt prevailed 73-64 thanks a dominant defensive performance that made Tunisia look helpless.

NIGERIA v SENEGAL, (89-61), Lagos, 16 September 2018

Over the years, Nigeria and Senegal have offered some of the most entertaining games on the continent of Africa. 

And when Nigeria hosted Senegal in Lagos in September 2018, the D'Tigers who were playing at home for the first time in years, made sure to remind everyone that rule at home.

Nigeria outclassed Senegal from start to finish, and by the final buzzer, The Nigerians humillited Senegal 89-61. 

However, when Nigeria and Senegal met five months later in Abidjan, it was a totally different ball game with Senegal returning the favor 84-63. 

Eventually, Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia snatched the five tickets on offer for African teams for the FIBA Basketball World 2019 in China.

Stay tuned for some epic battles in the African Qualifiers that will tip off in a few weeks time. 

FIBA