BAMAKO (Mali) - Against all the odds Mali's AS Police beat GSP of Algeria 83-76 in Sunday's Group A action of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Qualifiers in Bamako.

The win not only means the 'Police' finished as top of their group, but it also ensured them a place in the BAL's 'Elite 16'.

After losing to SLAC on Day-1, the Malians had their backs against the wall, and it was this do-or-die attitude that energised them for the remainder of the three-day qualifier.

Malcom While (AS Police)

Even though seven-footer  Mohamed Sedik Touati was a force to be reckoned with, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds and Abdellah Hamdini came up with 16 points and eleven rebounds for the Algerians, AS Police's Malcom White's 20 points and 14 rebounds proved vital for the Malians.

After winning their first two Group A games, GSP had almost their Second Round ticket secured, however, trying to beat AS Police in front their home crowd would serve as a baromoter of the their potential for the remaining  of the competition.

Things didn't go according to plan for the Algerians powerhouse on Sunday, especially because the Malians took to the floor determined to make justice to their loyal fans who cheered on them even during tough moments in the qualifier.

By the the final buzzer sound, AS Police mobbed their heroes for their successful run.

Despite a second-place finish in the group, it was a positive result for a team that displayed a good quality of basketball and aims  big in the BAL 2020.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Libya's Al Nasare ended SLAC's expectations in the tournament after beating the Guineans 76-72 in a nail-biting matchup. 

Mohamed Buzgaiya (Al Nasare)

Despite SLAC's defeat to GSP on Saturday the Guineans knew this was a must-win matchup in order to finish in the first two places of Group A, but their destiny was out of their hands. 

Senegal international Ibrahima Thomas led the way for the Libyans, finishing with a team-high 22 points, Mohamed Buzgaiya added 15 points and five rebounds in the losing cause, while SLAC paid the price for poor scoring options. 

SLAC's Shaquille Mc Farlan played the entire forty minutes did a bit of everything, finishing with game-highs 29 points and 16 rebounds, but his efforts weren't enough to avoid his team's second defeat in three games.

Eventually, AS Police and GSP finished with a similar 2-1 mark, but the Malians benefited from the head-to-head advantage, Al Nasare finished third with 1-2 record, and SLAC saw their Group A campaign come to an end with a 1-2 record.

FIBA