ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - The Malian team won every quarter of the game and dominated the fourth en route claiming the third place that keeps them in contention for a place at next year’s BAL.
The win leaves Stade Malien with a slim chance of qualifying for the BAL 2027 as one slot will go to the best third-placed team across the two divisions (East and West).
Abdul Karim Coulibaly and Kelvin Amayo once again led Stade Malien, combining for 48 points.
Coulibaly netted 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Amayo finished with a game-high 26 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Jerry Ngopot contributed 10 points and 9 rebounds.
“After yesterday’s game, it wasn’t easy to know whether the players would still have the energy to compete today,” Stade Malien head coach Amara Traore admitted.
“The key was really to finish the tournament on a high note. That’s what we talked about. We had to finish well, leave a lasting impression, and secure third place.
“The players gave us a pleasant surprise by putting in a very strong defensive performance. We had a rough start during some difficult stretches, but they managed to bounce back and hold their own,” coach Traore said.
Mohamed Harat (22 points, 7 rebounds) and Amine Bensalah (15 points, 11 rebounds) were the top performers for Staoueli.
FIBA