Africa-Press – Angola. Angola kicks off Afrobasket 2025 this Tuesday (12) against Libya, starting at 7 p.m., at the Kilamba pavilion in Luanda, in Group C. Libya is the opponent they defeated 16 years ago in the 2009 edition.
As hosts, the Libyans were unable to stop the Angolans, who won by a commanding 91-58, in the first meeting between the contenders in an event of this kind.
In that match, the National Team was completely dominant, winning every period, most notably the third, where they scored 27 points to just seven.
At Afrobasket 2009, Angola won their 7th African title, while Libya finished in 11th place.
At the time, the national team consisted of Olímpio Cipriano, Armando Costa, Carlos Morais, Domingos Bonifácio, Luís Costa, Leonel Paulo, Joaquim Gomes “Kikas”, Adolfo Quimbamba, Felizardo Ambrósio, Carlos Almeida, Filipe Abraão, and Eduardo Mingas.
Winger Carlos Morais was the match’s top scorer with 20 points, with the team led by Portuguese-Angolan coach Luís Magalhães.It should be noted that Carlos Morais has not earned the trust of Spanish coach Pep Clarós, and is considered the most notable absence in this 31st edition of the Senior Men’s African Basketball Championship, taking place in the provinces of Luanda and Namibe.
Statistically, the numbers also favor Angola, which ranks 33rd in the FIBA World Ranking and 3rd in the FIBA Africa Ranking, with 379 points, while Libya ranks 94th and 16th, respectively, with 99.9 points.
The Hendeca champions are participating in Afrobasket for the 22nd time, having won the title 11 times. Their opponents are competing for the fifth time. The last time was in 2009, and they have never managed to lift the trophy.
Angola and Libya play at 7:00 pm after the opening ceremony, at the Kilamba pavilion.
Earlier in the morning, the Senegal-Uganda and Mali-Egypt Group D matches will begin at 12 p.m., and the Mali-Egypt Group D matches will take place at the same pavilion in the country’s capital.
In Moçâmedes, Namibe province, the Guinea and South Sudan national teams will play at 2 p.m. in a Group C match at the Welwitschia Mirabilis Pavilion.As part of the festivities marking the 50th anniversary of National Independence, achieved in November 1975, Angola is hosting the event for the fourth time, following the 1989 and 1999 events in Luanda, and the 2007 events in Luanda, Cabinda, Benguela, and Huíla.
The final list is composed of:
Eduardo Francisco (Benfica, Portugal), Bruno Fernando (Real Madrid, Spain), Sílvio Sousa (Aris BC, Greece), Keven Kokila (JL Bourg-en-Bresse, France), Jilson Bango (Fenebashçe, Turkey), and João Fernandes (Sporting, Portugal).
Completing the group are Aboubakar Gakou (Petro de Luanda), Macachi Braz (Corunã Basket from Spain), Milton Valente (1o de Agosto), Selton Miguel (Maryland Terrapins NCCA-USA), Gelson Gonçalves (Aix Mauriense Savoie from France) and Childe Dundão (Petro de Luanda).
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
