Africa-Press – Rwanda. Wednesday, August 13
Group A
Rwanda 70-78 Cote d’Ivoire
Rwanda started their 2025 Afrobasket campaign on a low note after losing 70-78 at the hands of Côte d’Ivoire in Group A opening game on Wednesday, August 13.
At times, it seemed as if Rwanda would pull off another shocking result in Mocamedes after Guinea stunned South Sudan on Tuesday.
However, in the end, coach Cheikh Sarr took the blame for the loss after the Ivorians downed his men in the final stage of the game.
Côte d’Ivoire played sluggishly for most of the game but, fearing an embarrassing loss for a team often rated as a title contender, they played aggressively in the final 10 minutes.
This marked their first AfroBasket victory since losing to Tunisia in the 2021 AfroBasket final.
Assemian Moulare, Matt Costello, and Jean Philippe Dally combined for 42 points for Côte d’Ivoire. Guard Ntore Habimana, one of two Rwandan players to score in double figures alongside Hason Devere Ward, finished with 18 points.
Rwanda’s promising start to the 2025 AfroBasket left them with food for thought. However, Côte d’Ivoire admitted that being highly ranked means nothing in a tournament of this caliber.
There was a certain degree of uncertainty for most of the game. However, when Solo Diabate sank a three-pointer, giving the Ivorians a 63-62 lead with 6:47 left, Rwanda began to lose control of the game.
Williams Robeyns shot a three-pointer, cutting the Rwandan deficit to three points (70-67). However, Rwanda’s sloppy plays in the final quarter, during which they turned the ball over six times, definitely cost them the game.
A technical foul on Rwandan coach Cheikh Sarr with two minutes left gave Côte d’Ivoire a bonus free throw, and the game was over.
Rwanda’s last three-pointer, which came in the final seconds of the game, was too little too late, though it cut their losing margin to just eight points (78-70).
Côte d’Ivoire weren’t brilliant by any stretch, but Rwanda’s 26 turnovers were the main reason the former won.
Throughout the game, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire traded blows and leads, but the Ivorians’ 23 points off turnovers told the story of the game.
The Rwanda vs. Côte d’Ivoire matchup was a clear reminder of how competitive this AfroBasket tournament is.
The second-ranked team in Africa faced several challenges against a team that few expected to succeed in the tournament.
If not for Rwanda’s self-inflicted mistakes and lack of focus at critical moments, Côte d’Ivoire would have started the 2025 AfroBasket with a loss. However, the game turned out to be a learning experience for both teams.
While it was far from an attractive game, the better team won.
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