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July 2023
18/07/2023
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Preview: Quarter-Finals field complete for 2023 FIBA U16 African Championship

 

MONASTIR (Tunisia) – Following the conclusion of the last two games of the Group Stage of the FIBA 2023 FIBA U16 African Championship, the stage is now set for the Quarter-Finals.

The Quarter-Finals pairing will witness a structural change for many teams as they aim to go for broke irrespective of the Group Stage positions as this will be a knockout format.

MOROCCO v MALI

The Atlas Lions finished 4th place on the log in Group B with a 1-3 record that saw them with 5 points same as Uganda but they go through with a better deficit of -55 to Uganda's -132. They face title contenders Mali that finished top of Group A with the maximum 8 points from 4 games.

Morocco Coach, Mohamed Nizar Mesbahi will be relying on the forms of team captain Rayane Solhi and Mohamed Ragragui to execute the damage on Mali with support from Omar Karem. These three players have been outstanding even in their 3 losses but will look forward to boosting their chances against a strong Mali side.

Mali on the other hand saw off every opposition in Group A with a 100 percent record.

They scored a total of 292 points and conceded 206 winning 72-49, 76-72, 67-43 and 77-42 against Cote d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Angola and host Tunisia respectively.

This is a game that Mali Coach, Mamoutou Kane will not take lightly knowing the implication of what a defeat in the hands of Morocco will mean to their title ambition.

Having reached the Final in the last two editions of the championship in Praia 2019 and Cairo 2021, Mali have their eyes set on the ultimate prize.

To shake off Morocco, the quartet of Sidy Toure, Chectare Baradji, Mamadou Diarra and Mahamadou Diop will have to combine well to ensure victory for the West African nation.

COTE D'IVOIRE v GUINEA

Cote d'Ivoire will be in a tough battle against a rampaging Guinea side that has refused to back down to any opponent. The Ivoirans enter this game as the 4th placed team from Group A on a 1-3 record for 5 points.

The team took 90-68 win over host Tunisia in the third game but lost the other three. They are powered by Konan Koffi, Sedji Tedje and Mamadou Sako.

Coach Ngardinga Eloi and his technical team will need to find a means to stop Guinea that finished top of Group B with the maximum 8 points from 4 games.

Guinea made a mince meat of Uganda in their last Group game winning 100-52 to send a warning signal that they are still burning hot and ready to play.

Araphane Diane, the Guinea center leaves no one in doubt about his love for rebounds. Other players to worry about on the Guinea team are Sekou Toure, Nour Gassim Toure, Mohamed Lamine and Gassim Savane.

CHAD v ANGOLA

The last time Chad appeared in this championship, they finished fourth place and though they lost last game 83-70 to Egypt on Tuesday, Coach Belemgote Mdoumbe believes that if his boys keep their heads down and take instructions, then they could as well shock Angola.

With a scorer in the mode of Aristide Allaramadji, Mahamat Aka Ousmane and Guimdar Ferguson, Chad could create lots of proplems for Angola.

Though Angola finished in Group A with a 3-1 advantage, they are a strong willed side that takes its chances as it comes. Jaime Covilha, Coach of Angola is not one to take chances against any side as he prepares to go beyond this stage. Celestino Augusto will be on duty to make the difference against Chad just as Josemar Cesar and Paulino Eduardo will be giving support.

RWANDA v EGYPT

Defending champions Egypt have been stung once when they fell 83-78 to Guinea and it was not a palatable one for them but a wake up call. They finished the Group Stage on a 3-1 record and will do everything in their kitty to stop Rwanda in their tracks.

Anas Mohamed, Mohamed Wael, Ali Assran and Youssef Elhalawany will be on duty to ensure noting goes wrong with their hope of getting to another final.

But is if they can hold off Rwanda that finished 2-2 in Group A with 6 points will come out knowing that this an important encounter against 5-time champions.

The game will see team captain Sean Williams, Ricardo Gomez and Kenrik Kabano as well as Joseph Nshimiye attacking and defending stoutly to clinch victory.

At this stage, there are no favorites and only the team with a strong mind set will weather the challenge.

FIBA