LUANDA - MOÇÂMEDES (Angola) - A thorough look at the first four games of the 2025 AfroBasket reveals that the reserve players were the heroes of the day.
Although some starters dominated and contributed greatly to their teams, it was the substitutes who made the biggest impact.
This article highlights some standout performances that were too impactful to overlook.
Alpha Diallo (GUINEA)
Points - 28 Field-Goal - 8/16 Rebounds - 6 Assists - 4 Minutes played - 37:41 Efficiency - 25
During the postgame press conference, Guinea coach Nedeljko Asceric was asked about the secret to his team's shocking 88-80 win over South Sudan. He responded that there was no secret, and his players stuck to the game plan, executing what he expected from them.
However, Asceric didn't reveal his secret weapon, which completely changed the game's narrative for Guinea.
With the score tied at 6-6 early in the game, Asceric called Alpha Diallo off the bench, after which the game changed dramatically for the Bright Stars of South Sudan, as Diallo dictated the pace at will. Diallo didn't sit out until the final buzzer.
The AS Monaco small forward shot 8-for-16 from the floor, including 5-for-10 from deep, and finished with a game-high 28 points. Diallo also grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists, finishing with an efficiency rating of 25.
Makhtar Gueye (SENEGAL)
Points - 16 Field-Goal - 6/9 Rebounds - 5 Assists - 2 Minutes played - 18:08 Efficiency - 20
The former Basketball Without Borders (BWB) camper wasn't even Senegal's first option off the bench. In fact, he was the seventh player Coach DeSagana Diop called.
Gueye replaced Moustapha Diop with 1:39 left in the opening quarter.
However, it was in the second quarter that Gueye began his dominant performance.
In his first action, he grabbed a rebound and followed it up with a three-pointer. Next came a midrange shot, and the rest was history.
He went on to help Senegal secure an 88-53 win over Uganda. In just 18:08 minutes on the floor, Gueye shot 6-for-9, had five rebounds and two assists, and earned a 20 efficiency rating.
Ehab Amin (EGYPT)
Points - 21 Field-Goal - 7/19 Rebounds - 8 Assists - 3 Minutes played - 30:05 Efficiency - 19
As long as Ehab Amin is in good spirits, Egypt is often guaranteed a strong performance, as was the case on Tuesday.
Egypt outlasted Mali 75-59 thanks to a jaw-dropping performance by Amin.
The former U16 and U18 AfroBasket Most Valuable Player made his first impact with a three-pointer that gave Egypt a 9–2 lead. Then, he finished a fast break for a 13-2 lead as Mali struggled to keep up.
The 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) champion with Al Ahly SC went on to dominate at will.
The Al Ahly SC guard led the Pharaohs with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds. He finished with an efficiency rating of 19.
Kevin Kokila (ANGOLA)
Points - 12 Field-Goal - 4/5 3-pter - 2/3 Rebounds - 4 Steals - 2 Minutes played - 19:08 Efficiency - 16
With 1:03 left in the opening quarter, Kevin Kokila entered the game for the first time, replacing Aboubacar Gakou. He was the eighth player off the Angola bench.
First, he grabbed an offensive rebound and followed it with a steal. Then, he scored the first of his 12 points from behind the arc. He buried another three-pointer, raising eyebrows among Angolan fans.
Thanks to the 85-53 win over Libya, hosts Angola opened their 2025 AfroBasket campaign on a positive note.
Other stellar performances
Mamadi Diakite, the 2021 NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, spent just 19 minutes on the court to help Guinea defeat South Sudan 88-80 on Tuesday.
The 2019 NCAA Division 1 champion with the Virginia Cavaliers shot 6-for-6 from the floor, including 4-for-4 from deep, and finished with 16 points and a 21 efficiency rating.
Jean Jacques Bossy, the 2025 BAL champion with Al Ahli Tripoli, came off the bench as the sixth man and made an immediate impact. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists as Senegal dispatched Uganda 88-53.
Egypt's Mohamed Khalaf recorded the highest efficiency rating of the opening day with 28. He shot 6-for-6 from the floor, including a perfect 2-for-2 from deep, and finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. Egypt beat Mali 74-59.
FIBA