Host Rwanda registered their second successive win of the FIBA U-18 Africa Championship by defeating Ivory Coast in Group A on Saturday evening at Amahoro indoor stadium.
Today
Uganda 59 vs Angola 105 FT
Tunisia vs Benin 1pm
DR Congo vs Egypt 3pm
Mali vs Rwanda 6pm
Ivory Coast vs Algeria 8pm
Saturday results:
Benin 29-127 Angola
Rwanda 74-65 Ivory Coast
Tunisia 70-67 DR Congo
Gabon 52-84 Algeria
Egypt 87-48 Uganda
Host Rwanda registered their second successive win of the FIBA U-18 Africa Championship by defeating Ivory Coast in Group A on Saturday evening at Amahoro indoor stadium.
Coach Moise Mutokambali’s side came out o top in a game that had every aspect of a derby about it as both sides had won a match apiece but victory for the host means an assured place in the last eight.
Enoch Kisa Kyeyune inspired the home side by scoring 17 points and 4 rebounds, teammate Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza added 14 points plus 3 assists. Arnard Nkusi scored 13 points on top of 2 rebounds. Ivorian Bah Bi Boulou Gildas scored 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists for Ivory Coast.
In the first quarter, Rwanda got a shock as they trailed 17-20; Louis Cyrille Sie scored 11 of Ivory Coast’s 20 points. Minutes into the second quarter the host re-gained the lead with six swift points off fast break.
Going into half time, Rwanda were leading 41-31; the Ivoirians couldn’t wait for the break to re-strategize and re-think the game maneuvers and they later tried to comeback in the game by converting 12 of 17 free throws.
The Ivorians cut Rwanda’s lead to eight points with three minutes to play in the third quarter, as the host created an 8-point lead (46-38). Six quick points saw Rwanda establish a 12-point lead much to the disappointment of Cote d'Ivoire who called for time out.
Rwanda's Furaha and Osborn Shema scored back-to-back lay ups before Chester Kayonga made an notable steal to make two points for his side to lead 61-49.
Ivorian Isaac Djibril Cisse also made an important steal and scoring two back-to-back lay ups to cut Rwanda's lead to five points, as Rwanda managed 63-58 with four minutes to play in the last quarter.
Action continued on Sunday with favourites Angola thrashing Uganda 105-59.
Tunisia takes on who are still searching for a first victory in the tourney, DR Congo who feeling at home playing in Kigali have a battle against Egypt but then.
The next game appears to exciting when Rwanda returns to action with Mali and then afterwards the Ivorian’s will be have to fight hard as to avoid a second loss against Algeria.
On the hand, in what started as a scoring game, title contenders Angola thumped their chests after smashing Benin by a 98-point margin, 127-29.
Size can mean to be everything in basketball; Angola dominated the board and had a field day in the paint. Bruno Afanso Fernandes dropped dunks much to the delight of the crowd as he finished the game with highest score 32 points and 5 rebounds.
It was a second consecutive loss for Coach Aurelius and his boys who have a lot to think about having, lost to Egypt 141-25 in the opening game. Angola just like Rwanda has registered two wins as they continue to seek for quarterfinal place.
Neighbors DR Congo lost by a sheer three to 3 points to Tunisia in the last game of Saturday that ended 70-67.