LUANDA (Angola) - The Black Antelopes of Angola were a bullet train on the opening night of the 2025 AfroBasket on home soil.
Playing in front of a full-to-the-brim Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda on Tuesday, Angola played with a sense of urgency, making light work of Libya, beating the North Africans 85-53.
In the second meeting between Angola and Libya in an AfroBasket since 2009, Childe Dundao and Kevin Kokila each scored 12 points for the hosts. Nasseim Badrush led Libya in scoring with a game-high 16 points.
Early in the game, Jilson Bango rocked the rim with a two-handed jam, leading the crowd to erupt. It was a sign that new coach Sam Vincent and Libya were in for a long night. Every basket, block, and hustle play drew loud cheers from the crowd.
To their credit, the Libyans did block out noise and competed, with Badrush dropping seven points, one coming from three and four inside the paint.
TURNING POINT: Angola played an inspired second quarter, and the team's coach, Joseph Canals, made changes that fuelled Angola’s fire. Players like Kokila, Fernando and Goncalves led the home side to another memorable victory over Libya in the AfroBasket.
HERO: Childe Dundao is always a driving force for Angola, and he was the same in the victory against Libya.
His fearless drives into the paint delivered crucial buckets or drew fouls, and he also got his teammates involved in the game as he dished the ball out for teammates who had open looks at the basket.
STATS DON'T LIE: Angola’s bench delivered 25 points in the third quarter; in the same quarter, they also scored 22 points from turnovers. They were also ahead in fast-break points (13-9).
BOTTOM LINE: The eleven-time African champions gave their fans plenty to cheer about before heading to Mocamedes on Wednesday, where they will resume their Group C campaign.
Angola's decisive victory over Libya will boost the confidence of a nation longing for the AfroBasket title to return home.
WHAT THEY SAID: "It was a tough game, but we played good defence. We also had good energy, that's why we won tonight. It's also unbelievable that we are playing at home in front of this many people. We want to make them happy. I cannot explain what I am feeling seeing them right now." - Angola forward Aboubakar Gakou.
FIBA