LUANDA (Angola) - After 32 games across Luanda and Moçâmedes in Angola, the highly anticipated AfroBasket semifinals have arrived.
Only four of the original sixteen national teams remain to compete for the most coveted AfroBasket title.
And, only one of the four semifinalists remains undefeated; the other three have experienced ups and downs in this year's quadrennial African Championship.
One thing is for sure: there will be a new African champion on Sunday. Tunisia, the winner of the last tournament, was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Cape Verde.
This article previews the two semifinal matchups.
Mali vs. Senegal, August 23, 2025, 16:00 Local Time: (GMT+1)
FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike MALI - No. 12 in Africa (83rd in the World) SENEGAL - No. 8 in Africa (47th in the World)
This is the ninth meeting between Senegal and Mali in the last decade and the winner of this highly anticipated matchup encounter will earn a spot in the African Championship finals for the first time in years.
Senegal last reached the AfroBasket in 2005, and Mali's closest shot at winning the title was in 1999 when they lost to Angola, the eventual champions, in the semifinals in Luanda.
As recently as August 16 of this year, Senegal defeated Mali 80–70 in Group D.
Matchups between Senegal and Mali over the last 10 years:
Year/Location | Competition | Outcome | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
2025 - Luanda (Angola) | 2025 AfroBasket - Group D | Senegal beat Mali 80-70 | Senegal finish 2nd in the group |
2023 - Lagos (Nigeria) | 2023 FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament - Nigeria | Senegal beat Mali 74-71 | Senegal finish second after losing to Cameroon |
2019 - Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) | 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers - Group F - 2nd Round | Senegal beat Mali 62-38 | Senegal qualified for the World Cup |
2018 - Lagos (Nigeria) | 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers - Group F 1st Round | Senegal beat Mali 82-71 | Senegal qualified for the World Cup |
2017 - Dakar | 2017 AfroBasket Pre-Qualifiers - Game 1 - (Zone 2) | Senegal beat Mali 79-72 | Mali and Senegal qualified for the AfroBasket |
2017 - Bamako | 2017 AfroBasket Pre-Qualifiers - Game 2 - (Zone 2) | Mali beat Senegal 82-37 | Mali and Senegal qualified for the AfroBasket |
2015 (Bamako) | 2015 AfroBasket Qualifiers - Game 1 (Zone 2) | Mali beat Senegal 50-47 | Mali and Senegal qualified for the AfroBasket |
2015 (Dakar) | 2015 AfroBasket Qualifiers - Game 2 (Zone 2) | Mali beat Senegal 65-43 | Mali and Senegal qualified for the AfroBasket |
A thorough look at Mali and Senegal's performances in the tournament thus far reveals Senegal's slight advantage in points scored per game (83 vs. 77). Senegal also rebounds at a higher rate than Mali (55% vs. 49%).
However, Mali performed relatively better when shooting from deep, making 31% of their shots, compared to Senegal's 24%.
Senegal made 39% of their field goals, compared to Mali's 38%.
Two-time Basketball Africa League (BAL) Defensive Player of the Year, Aliou Diarra, is having a breakthrough campaign. He is leading Mali in major categories of the game. Meanwhile, Brancou Badio has been the heart and soul of the Senegalese team.
Senegal reached the semifinals with a 4–1 record, while Mali is 3–2.
Angola vs. Cameroon, August 23, 2025, 19:00 Local Time: (GMT+1)
FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike ANGOLA - No. 3 in Africa (33rd in the World) CAMERON - No. 9 in Africa (64th in the World)
Are you looking for an edge-of-your-seat game? Angola vs. Cameroon is certainly one to watch!
These two teams have produced some of the most entertaining games in African basketball over the years.
Although Cameroon has never beaten Angola in their last four meetings, dating back to 2007, there are plenty of reasons to expect another thrilling game.
This is a rematch of the 2007 AfroBasket final, in which a group of relatively unknown young Cameroonians took the African championship by storm before eventually falling to the host team, Angola, in the final.
One of the most memorable games in African basketball history occurred in the 2011 tournament in Antananarivo, Madagascar, when Angola beat Cameroon 84-83 in the quarterfinals.
Since that historic encounter, Angola and Cameroon have faced off on several occasions, with Angola prevailing by single digits each time.
Matchups between Angola and Cameroon:
Year/Location | Competition | Outcome | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
2018 - Rades (Tunisia) | 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers - Group E- First Round | Angola beat Cameroon 83-76 | Angola qualified for the 2019 World Cup |
2018 - Luanda (Angola) | 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers - Group E- Second Round | Angola beat Cameroon 77-73 | Angola qualified for the 2019 World Cup |
2011 - Antananarivo (Madagascar) | 2011 AfroBasket - Quarterfinals | Angola beat Cameroon 84-83 | Angola finished second |
2007 - Luanda (Angola) | 2007 AfroBasket - Final | Angola beat Cameroon 86-72 | Angola crowned African champions |
Cameroon averaged 85.6 points per game to reach the semifinals, compared to Angola's 81.3. Cameroon had a better rebounding average, grabbing 44.4 boards per contest—four more than Angola.
Cameroon converted 44% of their field goals, while Angola scored at a lower rate of 41%.
Childe Dundao has become Angola's go-to man, averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game, while Jeremiah Hill has emerged as Cameroon's primary scorer with 17 points per game.
Bruno Fernando, the first and only Angolan to play in the NBA, leads Angola with 7.8 rebounds per game, and Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA leads Cameroon with 8.3 rebounds per game.
Angola's ability to capitalize on turnovers makes them a threat. They average 27 points off their opponents' sloppy plays per game, compared to Cameroon's 16.
Angola's bench is more productive than Cameroon's, scoring 41.5 points per game, compared to Cameroon's 23.4.
FIBA