LUANDA (Angola) - Tunisia swooped in on a playoff spot at the 2025 AfroBasket on Sunday afternoon after putting in a clinical performance in a win-or-go-home game against Madagascar at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Kilamba.
Tunisia won 81-60 with their revival in the tournament led by 33 points from Oussama Marnaoui. Omar Abada scored 22 points and gave five assists, while team captain Achref Gannouni scored 11 points.
Madagascar were led in scoring by Elly Randriamampionona (17 points) while Sitraka Raharimanantoanina put up a double-double (16 points and 12 rebounds)
Floor general Abada led the scoring with seven for Tunisia, opening the scoring in the game with a drive in layup, a three-pointer and a floater to tie the game 7-7 at 5:11 minutes.
A Marnaoui three-pointer gave Tunisia the lead, but Mathias M'Madi tied the game 10-10 with a baseline trey from a Rija Lohantan assist.
TURNING POINT: Tunisia had control of the game for the opening five minutes with threes from Marnaoui and Abada, which levelled things and then gave the Carthage Eagles the 37-34 lead. A free throw from Marnaoui and a bucket from Bechir Ben Yahia made it a 40-38 game, with Raharimanantoanina scoring in between.
With two minutes to go in the third, Tunisia had a six-point run facilitated by points from Marnaoui, Abada and Gannouni, making it a 50-42 scoreline going into the fourth quarter. With five minutes to go in the fourth, Tunisia had a nine-point run and its biggest lead of the game (13 points). A three-pointer from Jawadi, and points from Marnaoui, Methnani, and Abada gave Tunisia the 66-53 lead, forcing coach John Douaglin to call a time out.
HERO: Marnaoui had a good shooting afternoon, especially from the three-point range, where he was 6/9. Inside the arc, he was just as effective, posting figures of 6/8, which helped to extend Tunisia's stay in the tournament.
STATS DON'T LIE: Tunisia dominated the Malagasy in all statistics. Coach Mehdy Mary's bench produced 50 points for the Eagles. In the paint, Tunisia scored 38 points, 16 second-chance points, 15 points from turnovers and 12 fast break points.
BOTTOM LINE: It was the battle of the eagles in this final game of Group B between Tunisia and Madagascar. The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, the defending champions, had a chance to regain their predatory instincts, which seemed lost in defeats to Cameroon and Nigeria.
For Madagascar's Ankoay, also 0-2 in the group, it was a chance to come of age against their more experienced opponents.
Tunisia finally showed up when it mattered. The team clicked well in the final game and having progressed to the playoffs, do they have what it takes to defend their title?
WHAT THEY SAID: "I had two bad games against Nigeria and Cameroon. My team know my level. I had to step up," said Tunisia's Oussama Marnaoui.
FIBA