ALEXANDRIA/DAKAR (Egypt/Senegal) - Four games down, eight more to come in the first round Groups B and D, but we want you to share your thoughts on the most dominant player on the opening day in Alexandria and Dakar.
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Kevin Yebo (Cote d'Ivoire)
Côte d'Ivoire’s early dominance and Kevin Yebo’s first-quarter fireworks put this game to bed before halftime.
The German-Ivorian player stole the spotlight late in the opening quarter, draining three consecutive three-pointers in just 43 seconds. His explosive nine-point outburst helped Côte d'Ivoire build a double-digit cushion that Senegal never managed to erase. Eventually, the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire prevailed 90-80.
Ibrahima Faye (Senegal)
Ibrahima Faye delivered a strong all-around performance for Senegal with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, and 1 block in 29:19. He finished with an efficiency of 18 and a +3 plus/minus, but his efforts were not enough to avoid Senegal's 90-80 loss to start the qualifiers.
Siriman Kanoute (Mali)
One of the reasons why Mali convincingly beat hosts Egypt 86-77 was Siriman Kanoute's impressive playmaking. He orchestrated Mali’s offense with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and a game-high 10 assists, coming close to a triple-double.
Childe Dundao (Angola)
Angola dispatched Uganda 90-68 behind Childe Dundao's heroics.
The reigning AfroBasket MVP powered Angola’s victory with a near triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 11 assists, and 8 steals in under 27 minutes of action. He posted a 22 efficiency rating and a game-high +41 plus/minus, all while committing zero turnovers. Dundao’s defensive intensity and playmaking sparked Angola’s 17-0 opening run, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Oumar Ballo (Mali)
Another key factor for Mali's 86-77 victory over hosts Egypt was Oumar Ballo's unstoppable display.
Ballo was the driving force behind Mali’s victory, delivering 23 points on 9-of-15 from the field, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in 36:05 of action. Ballo converted all six of his dunk attempts, posted a +20 plus/minus, and recorded an efficiency rating of 33, adding two steals and zero turnovers to his stat line.
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