ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Fans inside Palais des Sports de Treichville had to endure a tense final three minutes of Thursday's Quarter-Final matchup between Côte d’Ivoire and Egypt.
Leading by 11 points (61-50) with just over four minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Côte d’Ivoire missed five straight shots as Egypt cut the lead to 7 points.
However, Bryan N’goli’s pair of free throws eased the tension as the hosts held on for a 67-57 win and advanced to the Semi-Final.
Unlike the Group Phase meeting between the two sides, which Côte d’Ivoire dominated physically, Egypt were prepared for contact and never backed down in the physical battle right from the first quarter, which Côte d’Ivoire controlled 21-13.
Another high-scoring quarter had Stephanie Kanoute’s charges leading 43-29 at halftime, but after the break, Egypt’s star man Rami Magdy, who finished with a game-high 13 points and 9 rebounds, went to work.
Magdy, alongside Begad Ibrahim and Belal Sohaib (13 points & 9 rebounds), dragged Egypt to within 7 points, but Nathan Djako made a foul basket that had Côte d’Ivoire’s lead back in double digits.
Djako and Bryan N’goli top-scored for Côte d’Ivoire with 12 points each and were the only players to reach double figures.
Next Up
Côte d’Ivoire will battle the 2024 silver medalists, Cameroon, in the Semi-Finals on Saturday, while Egypt will play Chad in the 5-8 Classification on Friday.
FIBA