Tuesday, September 2 Group A (boys) Rwanda 56-67 Angola Rwanda on Tuesday, September 2, started off their 2025 FIBA Africa U16 boys' championship campaign with a 56-67 loss at the hands of Angola in the opening match held at Petit Stade. The Palancas Negras faced a fierce test from the hosts before outscoring them with an 11-0 run in the last five minutes to register their first win in the FIBA U16 AfroBasket in Kigali. ALSO READ: Rwanda face Angola in FIBA U16 Afrobasket opening game Determined to shine before the home crowd, Igor Mugisha’s boys took control of the game from the first quarter. They were leading 11-7 in the first five minutes and kept the momentum before Angola staged a comeback and cut the deficit by one point at halftime (34–33). The same scenario repeated in the third quarter, with Rwanda still ahead by one point (46–45). Angola took the lead in the first minutes of the fourth quarter, and Rwanda needed a hero. In the final seconds of the game, Manzi Enzo Kabenga rose to score a layup and earn a free throw that could have changed the game's outcome. He missed his shot, and the two teams finished at 56-56 after 40 minutes of competition, as they headed for overtime which the Angolans won 11-0 to bag their hard earned victory. ALSO READ: U16 AfroBasket 2025 to attract 23 countries Despite the loss, Rwanda's combative effort was notable when the Palancas Negras scored four consecutive free throws. They kept going, and though Rwanda tried to fight back, it was no use. Edilson Pedro was Angola’s hero; he scored a game-high 24 points and had 16 rebounds. Kabenga was a go-to player on the Rwandan side with his impressive double-double (16 points and 14 rebounds). Rwanda and Angola are placed in Group A alongside Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone. Each team will play three games during the group phase before the tournament enters its elimination round.
