Africa-Press – Angola. The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, considered Tuesday in Luanda that the National Basketball Team’s victory in Afrobasket’2025 has special significance, as it broke a 10-year drought without continental trophies in this sport.
Speaking at the ceremony welcoming the African champion team, the Head of State emphasized that this trophy “was not just another Afrobasket title won, but above all, one that made a difference.”
“It is this trophy that breaks the 10-year drought in which Angola, despite having 11 victories in its history, went that period without winning the African basketball championship,” he emphasized.
Therefore, he said, the victory here in Angola, in 2025, was not just another Afrobasket, but the one that made a difference, that broke the drought we’ve endured for a considerable number of years,” he said.
According to João Lourenço, this triumph is even more remarkable because it contrasts with the period in which Angola won consecutively, “as if the others didn’t know how to play basketball.”
The statesman defended the need to further massify the practice of the sport and highlighted the great potential of the country to achieve even greater achievements in sport.
‘You are a model to follow. Our young people, the children, are inspired by your achievements and everyone wants to be champions. We have to build more courts in the communities, something we have already started to do,’ he said.
Twelve blocks will be built
In this sense, he announced that over the next two years, the executive foresees the construction of 12 multipurpose pavilions, ensuring that no province will be without a suitable sports infrastructure for basketball, handball, volleyball and indoor soccer.
‘With this investment, both in infrastructure and in the formation of our young people, Angola may become a great sports power. We are having joys in other modalities, such as women’s handball, struggles, mixed martial arts, swimming and gymnastics,’ he added.
The President of the Republic also stressed that the bet should not only be in financial resources, but especially in humans, ensuring conditions for new generations to continue the country’s sports legacy.
‘It is a matter of believing that it is possible, if there is grassroots work, investment in man and dedication. We would like to thank the fact that we have brought us this great joy and we say that more victories come in the coming years, while they are in the active,’ he concluded.
At the time, the African champions presented to the head of state the Cup conquered and offered the presidential couple official nightgown and a ball autographed by the team.
The moment was marked with a fraternization and an official photograph that sealed the ceremony.
Angola won Mali on Sunday by 70-43.
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