Review: The recently concluded Window 2 of the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers in Dakar showcased some of Africa's talented pro hoopers. From South Sudan’s first defeat in two years to Senegal’s revenge on Cameroon and DR Congo's surprising 3-0 run, here are the key takeaways from Senegal's capital.
Last Updated on
November 28, 2024
Nobody expected DR Congo to spring such a surprise from their stay in Dakar. Kicking off their campaign with a 72-64 win over Mali, buoyed by Jordan Sakho and Claude Luetete, the only Congolese players to score in double digits (16 and 20 points respectively).
Against Morocco, a remake of the 2023 FIBA AfroCan Semi-Finals, Lutete came up with another masterclass, finishing the game with 27 points, while Sakho contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds to the winning cause.
With one final game to play against Africa’s top-ranked country, DR Congo put all they had on the line. South Sudan, who were on a winning streak since August 2022 in Monastir, when they fell to Senegal 69-66, did all they could to remain in contention for victory.
While the game seemed to go the Leopards’ way, Junior Madut came up with a two-point shot that sent the game to overtime, 64-64.
Sakho signed off with a double-double to his credit, contributing 18 points and crashing 11 boards. But Rolly Fulla came up with MVP vibes as he netted a team-high 21 points.
The host nation, Senegal, was one of the most dominant teams in this window, finishing with a perfect 3-0 record. Their campaign included a key revenge victory over Cameroon, who had beaten them in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament earlier in the year. Senegal’s win was lovely as they delivered a powerful performance in front of their home fans, with Brancou Badio leading the charge.
Badio’s poise and playmaking were crucial throughout the tournament, particularly in the 79-65 win over Cameroon. Youssou Ndoye also contributed significantly with his strong defensive presence and timely scoring, helping Senegal finish the window unbeaten. The team’s flawless record in this window placed them firmly among the favourites for next year’s AfroBasket.
He came, he delivered, he conquered. Senegal’s 3-0 run bears the mark of Brancou Badio, who plies his trade in Valencia Basket Club in Spain’s Liga ACB, where they currently sit fourth. Badio finished the Dakar window with an average of 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and four assists per game, leading his side in scoring and assists.
He came up with 31 points in the crucial and revenge win over Cameroon, showing his mettle in dire situations. His numbers for this game show that he was 5-for-13 from behind the arc, 6-for-7 from the charity stripe, and 10-for-25 in field goals.
Mali, with a youthful squad filled with energy, also turned heads. Despite their lack of experience compared to some of the tournament's basketball powerhouse nations, Mali showed they have a promising future. Siriman Kanoute and Hassan Drame, part of Mali's U19 World Cup team in 2019, were standout performers for the West African nation. Their efforts to see off a more experienced Morocco side (66-64) indicated what they could do under pressure.
This win, after they began their Group A run with a 72-64 loss to DR Congo before dropping another one to South Sudan (85-60), saw Mali finish with a 2-1 streak. Though it's far from their winning ambitions, their chances of making it to Angola in August 2025, albeit slim, are still alive.
Losing to Libya in the Pre-Qualifiers earlier this year was not a hard enough lesson for Morocco. Replacing Mozambique, who withdrew from the Qualifiers, the North Africans didn’t seize the chance offered, finishing with a 0-3 streak.
To their credit, they met with South Sudan in their opening game (66-85). Then, DR Congo sent them wondering how they could allow Lutete this much space as he netted 27 points before Mali put the final nail in their coffin with a 66-64 defeat.
With the February 2025 window looming, Morocco must make amends, lest they see their chance of returning to FIBA Africa’s premier tournament for men slip away.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
