Unbeaten Madagascar roll into AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers

HARARE (Zimbabwe) - Madagascar on Saturday qualified for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers after beating hosts Zimbabwe 69-62.

The Malagasy not only closed their pre-qualifier campaign with four victories in as many games, but they have also become the 18th team to secure a place in the 20-team FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers, which tips off later this year.

In the round-robin qualifier, which convened representatives from Africa Zones 6 (Zambia and Zimbabwe) and 7 (Madagascar) beat their opponents to advance to Group A of Final Round, which includes reigning Africa champions Tunisia, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Madagascar's win in Harare means they have enhanced their chances of returning to Africa's prime basketball for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 2011.

The teams that finish in the first three places of each group of the AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers will advance to the Finals in Kigali, Rwanda.

Meanwhile, Zambia beat Zimbabwe 78-55 in Sunday's last game of the qualifiers as both teams finished with a 1-3 apiece. 

Below are the groups for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers:

Group A: Tunisia, Central African Republic, DR Congo and Madagascar

Group B: Senegal, Angola, Mozambique and Kenya

Group C: Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, winner of Zone 4 

Group D: Nigeria, Mali, Rwanda and Algeria

Group E: Morocco, Egypt, Uganda, winner of Zone 3

FIBA