DOUALA (Cameroon) - Cape Verde booked their place in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers thanks to Cameroon's emphatic 86-76 victory over Libya.
Earlier in the day, Cape Verde had fallen 83-63 to South Sudan, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
The Blue Sharks, as the island nation's team is affectionately known, needed Cameroon to overcome Libya to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Determined to maintain their perfect home record, Cameroon stormed out of the gates with relentless defensive pressure, efficient shooting, and excellent ball movement.
Facing a Libyan side desperate to pull off a major upset, the Lions dictated the pace from the opening tip, disrupting the North Africans' offensive rhythm with aggressive defense and converting crucial stops into fast-break points to edge the opening quarter 13-10.
Cameroon's success was built on collective brilliance rather than individual heroics.
Captain Fabien Ateba led the charge with a sensational 29-point performance, knocking down seven of his 10 three-point attempts for 21 points from beyond the arc and finishing with an efficiency rating of 28.
Forward Tamenang Choh produced another all-round masterclass, contributing 15 points and a game-high eight assists, while Jeremiah Hill added 14 points to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The Lions also dominated the finer details of the contest. They outrebounded Libya 38-34, shared the ball with precision, and forced 20 turnovers, converting those mistakes into 26 valuable points that proved decisive.
Libya refused to go down without a fight.
Naseim Badrush poured in 19 points, Mohamed Buzgaiya added 15, and Mohamed Sadi contributed 14 as the trio accounted for more than 60 percent of Libya's total points. However, Cameroon's defensive intensity and disciplined execution repeatedly halted any hopes of a comeback.
Roared on by a passionate home crowd in Douala, the hosts controlled the contest from start to finish, capping another impressive display in front of their fans.
The result officially settles the Group A qualification race, with Cape Verde joining Cameroon and South Sudan in the second round.
Despite securing qualification, Cape Verde head coach Emmanuel Trovoada insisted his side will approach Sunday's clash against Libya with renewed focus.
"Cameroon was a very physical team, South Sudan were very athletic and against Libya it will be a different game. We will prepare for that game and show a good level," Trovoada said.
The final round of Group A fixtures takes place on Sunday, with Cape Verde facing Libya while unbeaten hosts Cameroon lock horns with Africa's highest-ranked team, South Sudan, in what promises to be a thrilling showdown in Douala.
FIBA