[VIDEO] We still have a chance to qualify, says Mutokambali

Host Rwanda was stunned by Mali to end their unbeaten run in the FIBA U18 competition game held yesterday, but Coach Moise Mutokambali believes his boys still have chance to qualify in the last eight.

Monday, July 25, 2016
Samuel Niyonshuti (R) tries his best to go past Malian players. / Faustin Niyigena.

Tuesday

Angola vs DR Congo 11:15amBenin vs Uganda 13:30pmGabon vs Ivory Coast 15:45pmAlgeria vs Mali 18:00pmEgypt vs Tunisia 20:15pm

Sunday

Angola 105-56 UgandaTunisia 86-33 BeninEgypt 95-68 DR CongoRwanda 40-61 Mali

Host Rwanda was stunned by Mali to end their unbeaten run in the FIBA U18 competition game held yesterday, but Coach Moise Mutokambali believes his boys still have chance to qualify in the last eight.

Mali lead Rwanda 61-40 to walk away with a 2nd victory in the competition, Ousmane Traore recorded the teams highest score 26.

Coach Mutokambali said, "Throughout the game it was pretty even for both teams, we would score and then they would counter, until when we went down by 21points in the 4Q, they consistently blocked our offence with solid zone making limiting us in the 2Q.”

Mali's Traore Ousmanie (#6) goes for a lay-up as Cadeau de Dieu Furaha blocks him. / Faustin Niyigena.

"We have to win the next game against Algeria on Tuesday so that we stand a chance to qualify, we also need to avoid chasing individual statistics but concentrate on teamwork.”

Mutokambali who earlier acknowledged that Mali was tactically resilient started the competition with a win against Gabon (94-64), then went ahead to overcome Cote d’Ivorire 74-65 in a closely contested battle.

In the other earlier games, Egypt led DR Congo 95-68, Tunisia inflicted more frustration to West African side Benin by a 86-33 victory as result; Benin have no point since they have gone down on three occasions.

Furaha Cadeau de Dieu. / Faustin Niyigena.

Angola cruised to a 105-59 victory over debutants Uganda, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a game high 21 point, plus two rebounds. Samuel Mathew Ochieng scored Uganda’s highest points17, in their losing effort as they failed to stop a hard-hitting Angola from reaching a century mark.

The tournament takes a break today but the competition resumes on Tuesday. 

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