The championship of AfroBasket 2021 is set after Tunisia and Cote d’Ivoire won their semifinal matchups.
In the first semifinal game, defending AfroBasket 2017 champions Tunisia defeated Cape Verde 75-65.
Tunisia’s offense was balanced, as four players scored in double figures with Makram Ben Romdhane (16 points), Salah Mejri (14 points), Michael Roll (14 points) and Omar Abada (14 points).
The four players combined for 58 of the team’s 75 points.
Ben Romdhane (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Roll (14 points, 10 assists) both recorded double-doubles.
Cape Verde big man Walter Tavares (16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) was a bright spot for the team on a day that they struggled to knock down shots, shooting 36.1 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from three-point.
“We lacked some international basketball experience,” said Cape Verde head coach Emanuel Trovoada. “Some of our players were playing in an international basketball semifinals for the first time in their careers. But I must say that our long-range shooting didn’t work out today. It’s up to us to reflect, and improve aspects our game because we still have a game to play [Third-Place game].”
Cape Verde got out to an early 12-2 lead, but Tunisia quickly erased that deficit.
They never relinquished the lead the rest of the game.
Tunisia (5-0) will now attempt to win back-to-back AfroBasket titles when they face off against Cote d’Ivoire in the championship on Sept. 5.
Cape Verde (3-2) will play Senegal in the third-place game that will take place before the championship.
In the final game of the day, Cote d’Ivoire took down Senegal 75-65, the same score as the first game.
Cote d’Ivoire was led by Matt Costello (17 points, 12 rebounds), Nisre Zouzoua (15 points) and Souleymane Diabate (14 points).
Gorgui Dieng paced Senegal with a double-double (24 points, 11 rebounds), but the team struggled with their shot, shooting 20.0 percent from three-point.
Cote d’Ivoire led almost the entire game, while Senegal only led for one minute, 37 seconds.
This is the first time that Cote d’Ivoire has reached an AfroBasket final since 2009, when they finished runner-up to Angola.
Cote d’Ivoire (5-0) will meet defending AfroBasket champions Tunisia in the championship game on Sept. 5, where they will attempt to win their first AfroBasket since 1985.
Senegal (4-1) meanwhile, will play Cape Verde in the third-place game.
