ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - In February, eight of the sixteen national teams took to the field for the first time in the 2027 Qatar World Cup qualifiers, with twelve games producing some remarkable moments.
These were the opening fixtures for groups B and D.
Group B consists of Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar, while Group D consists of Mali, Angola, Egypt and Uganda.
This article highlights the five most unforgettable moments from the second round of the African qualifiers.
Hosts fell short on the opening day
The two host nations of the second round of the World Cup African qualifiers were shown no mercy, both losing their opening games in front of their home fans.
Senegal stumbled against a ferocious Côte d'Ivoire side in their first game at the historic and well-located Marius N'diaye Gymnasium. Côte d'Ivoire reversed an early 2-0 deficit to take complete control and dominate, shocking the thousands of fans who filled the venue.
This was Côte d'Ivoire's third win in four matchups against Senegal, dating back to the 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers.
Meanwhile, in Cairo, hosts Egypt were no match for an angry Mali team, who trailed by one point early on but quickly took the lead, eventually winning Group B 86–77.
Mali stun reining African champions
Six months had passed since Angola outclassed Mali in the final of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket in their capital city, Luanda, to claim their twelfth continental title. But in Cairo, Mali were a completely different team.
On the last day of the first round of Group D, both Angola and Mali were still undefeated after two games.
However, the Eagles of Mali narrowly beat the Black Antelopes of Angola 80–79.
This one-point victory ended Angola's eight-game winning streak, which had lasted since February 2025.
Dundao reinforced his top-defender credentials with new record
At 1.67m, he may be the shortest player to have played in the early stages of the 2027 World Cup African Qualifiers, but Childe Dundao reminded everyone why he continues to make headlines with his aggressive defensive style of play.
The reigning AfroBasket Most Valuable Player set a new World Cup African Qualifiers record with eight steals in the 90–68 win against Uganda.
In addition to this record-breaking performance, Dundao also scored 15 points and provided 12 assists.
Double-Double machines
Prior to the second window of the World Cup African qualifiers, Rwanda's David McCormack was the only player to have recorded two double-doubles.
However, this admirable record was quickly equalled in the February games in Cairo.
The Malian duo Siriman Kanoute and Oumar Ballo, as well as Uganda's Nike Sibande, each recorded two double-doubles in three games.
Kanoute, the playmaker, averaged 24 points and 11 assists, while Ballo averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Sibande finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in a 91–52 loss to Egypt and also finished with 22 points and 10 assists in an 84–73 defeat to Mali.
Siriman Kanoute's career-high
A two-time MVP of FIBA Africa youth tournaments, Siriman Kanoute is starting to establish himself as one of Africa's most celebrated stars — and what a way to do it!
Facing the Angolan team that had humiliated Mali 70–43 in the 2025 AfroBasket final, Kanouté was ready to play and delivered a huge performance.
He was Angola's main tormentor, spending 37:44 minutes on the court and leading Mali with 23 points and a career-high 15 assists. Mali shocked Angola, winning 80–79.
FIBA