Africa-Press – Liberia. Host Ivory Coast left it late to secure a dramatic last second win over the girls of Liberia in the ongoing women’s category of FIBA Zone-3 qualifiers tournament currently taking place in Abidjan.
The host ended the match as the winning team when everyone thought Liberia had won the game 50-49 points but at the last second in the game, Ivory Coast made a three points basket to frustrate Liberia who narrowly lost the game 52-50 points.
Liberia, who returned to intentional basketball after over five years, gave Ivory Coast a run for their money with spectacular displays of basketball in each quarter of the match.
Even though the Ivorians proved to be strong, the Red, white and Blue girls were a competitive side that didn’t give their opponent an easy day on the court.
Knowing that a win for Liberia will switch attention to the girls, they fought in the first quarter of the match but were behind against host Ivory Coast by three points which ended 16-13.
The host also took complete control of the second quarter by taking a lead of 15—9 points which created more celebration from the home supporters.
Liberia reconsolidated in the third quarter of the match, taking a commanding 20-7 lead over Ivory Coast but in the fourth quarter allowed the host to take a 14-8 points lead.
The Turning point of the match was when the host sealed the win on the clock with three points basketball to increase their point to 52-50 to win the match. However, the Liberian team protested the decision of the match officials.
At the sound of the final whistle, the Liberian team protested that the time was over when the basket was made, but the match officials didn’t pay attention to their claim.
At the end of the match, the head of delegation of Liberia, Secretary General, Calvin Diggs said a decision will be taken by the Liberia Basketball Association in the coming days.
“You saw the game and everyone in here knows that we were robbed of a clear and clean win over the hosts. But we will do a communication in the coming days to FIBA who is our mother body. Who has a video to prove that we won the game” he explained tearfully.
Meanwhile, in the Liberia male team opening match on Wednesday July 31, Liberia suffered a defeat to Ghana.
The Liberia boys were handed a defeat at the hands of their Ghanaian counterparts who pulled a 66-54 win at Palais des Sports de Treichville gym.
Ghana, from the start of the match displayed their supremacy by not allowing their Liberian team to pull convincing points throughout the first three quarters.
Despite an improved performance from the young Lonestar in the second quarter, they were unable to bridge the gap, leaving Ghana to extend their lead to 40-31.
The third quarter also ended in Ghana’s favor, with a significant 53-38-point lead.
In the fourth and final quarter, Liberia had it all to play but could not live up to expectation as the Ghanaian won 64-56.
The Ghanaian boys’ triumph brings them one step closer to the African qualifiers, where they aim to secure a spot in the Under -18 World Cup.
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