ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Since the introduction of FIBA's new competition system in 2017, the tournament has seen many jaw-dropping individual and collective performances. However, the inevitable question is whether the previous records can be maintained for much longer.
In this article, FIBA.basketball looks back at how some of these remarkable moments came to be.
Most Points scored in a game (42)
Although Egypt fell short against South Sudan, losing 97-77 in front of their home fans in Alexandria on 26 February 2023, Egyptian shooter Amr Elgendy delivered a performance for the ages.
The left-handed guard propelled Egypt's offence with an array of incredible shots, often catching South Sudan's defence off guard.
Elgendy shot 14-for-25 from the floor, including 6-for-12 from deep, to set a new tournament record of 42 points in a game.
The previous scoring record for the FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers had been set by Jordan Nwora of Nigeria, who finished with 36 points in a 93–53 rout of Mali.
Most Assists in a game (12)
In Window 1 of the 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad were desperate to bounce back from two consecutive losses to Tunisia and Cameroon.
Defeating Guinea was essential, and team co-captain Asnal Noubaramadje met expectations, as Chad overpowered Guinea 85–51, with Noubaramadje achieving a record 12 assists.
Three other players — Ben Uzoh (Nigeria), Kenneth Gasana (Rwanda) and Xane D'Almeida (Senegal), as well as Solo Diabate (Côte d'Ivoire) — have come close to Noubaramadje's record, registering 11 assists each over the years. However, the historic mark has remained unbeaten since 26 November 2018.
Most Rebounds (20)
Johan Grebongo's record of 18 rebounds in the World Cup African Qualifiers lasted exactly four years.
After helping the Central African Republic to a 63–62 victory over Côte d'Ivoire on 25 February 2018 in Maputo, Mozambique, Grebongo's record came to an end when Senegal's Youssoupha Ndoye grabbed two more rebounds on 25 February 2022 in Dakar, helping Senegal to a 75–57 victory over Egypt.
Most Three-Point made in a game (7)
On 24 February 2019, Rwandan Kenneth Gasana sank a record seven three-pointers in a 77–69 loss to the Central African Republic in the final qualifying window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
However, his historic record was equalled four years later when Côte d'Ivoire's Sire Dieng shot 7 for 13 from behind the arc in an 89–44 win over Uganda.
Most Steals in a game (7)
Five players — Omar Abada (Tunisia), Jean Jacques Nshobouzwa (Rwanda), Gerson Domingos (Angola), Assem Marei (Egypt) and Ibe Abuch Abu (Nigeria) — hold the record for the most steals in a World Cup African Qualifiers, with seven each.
Most Blocks in a game (6)
With six blocked shots each, Edy Tavares (Cape Verde), Placid Nakidjim (Chad) and Mohamed Choua (Morocco) are the three players who hold the record for the most blocked shots in the World Cup African Qualifiers.
Highest Efficiency in a game (41)
No player has achieved a higher efficiency rating in a game than Amr Elgendy of Egypt, who recorded an impressive 41 rating in their team's 97-77 defeat to South Sudan.
Most points scored by a team (116)
By beating Guinea 116–78 in Window 1 of the 2019 World Cup African qualifiers, Cameroon set a record for the highest score in tournament history.
Nigeria scored the second-highest number of points in the World Cup African Qualifiers when they demolished the Central African Republic 114-69 in Lagos, Nigeria, on 15 September 2018.
Most three-points made by a team (16)
Cameroon demonstrated their three-point prowess on two occasions, setting a tournament record of 16 treys.
On 25 November 2017, they defeated Guinea 116–78, sinking 16 of 38 shots from behind the arc.
Six years later, in February 2023, they shot 16-for-33 from deep in an 85-56 win over DR Congo in Alexandria, Egypt.
Most rebounds by a team (63)
In terms of rebounding, no team in recent World Cup Africa Qualifier history was able to match the dominance of DR Congo and Angola, who both set a tournament record by grabbing 63 boards each in a game.
On 30 June 2018 in Cairo, DR Congo defeated Morocco 61–58, mainly thanks to their dominance in the paint, where they out-rebounded their opponents 63–46.
Five years later, on 24 February 2023, Angola overpowered Uganda with unquestionable rebounding dominance, winning 82–49 and out-rebounding their opponents 63–36.
FIBA