FIBA U18 AfroBasket Zone 1 Qualifiers: Tunisian Perfection Leads to Finals

FIBA Africa Zone 1 U18 AfroBasket Qualifiers

FIBA U18 AfroBasket Zone 1 Qualifiers: Women

Playing on home soil often brings its own level of motivation, and this was evident with the Tunisian women's national team on Day 3 of the Zone 1 qualifying tournament for the women's 2024 U18 AfroBasket in Madagascar in August.

Led by captain Nour Horchani, Tunisia faced a difficult game against Morocco, narrowly securing a 56-55 victory to advance to the final round on Sunday. Horchani contributed 22 points, five rebounds, two assists, and three steals. However, the hero of this thrilling game was Yoldez Ben Belaid, who scored the decisive points despite only totalling four for the game.

The stakes were high as the two teams vied for first place in their group. Tunisia started strong, taking an early lead and ending the first quarter ahead 16-11. Despite a comeback attempt by Morocco, Tunisia maintained a slim advantage, going into halftime with a 22-18 lead.

Morocco surged in the third quarter, briefly taking the lead after a three-pointer from their captain, Sabrin El Hilali, who stood out at the 2023 U16 AfroBasket championships. Tunisia quickly responded with free throws from Horchani, leading to a back-and-forth battle that saw neither team able to pull away decisively.

Towards the end of the third quarter, Tunisia regained a slight edge, finishing 38-36. The final quarter mirrored the game's intensity, with both teams fiercely contesting every point. Midway through the quarter, Tunisia built a slight lead (47-42), but Morocco continued to fight back, never allowing the gap to widen beyond three points.

In the final three minutes, the game reached a fever pitch. With 33 seconds left, Tunisia led 54-53. However, with just five seconds remaining, Lina Masrour scored to put Morocco ahead 55-54. In the dramatic final seconds of the game, Tunisia called a timeout and executed their planned ATO to almost perfection; Ines Ben Rejeb set up Yoldez Ben Belaid, who broke through the Moroccan defence to score the winning basket at the buzzer, securing a 56-55 victory.

Tunisia's hard-fought win propelled them to the finals, where they will face Morocco again, a team undoubtedly out for revenge.
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FIBA U18 AfroBasket Zone 1 Qualifiers: Men

In the men's competition, Tunisia faced a tough game against rivals Algeria, who have struggled during the qualifiers. The home team needed a victory to secure their place in the finals against Morocco.

Algeria started strong, quickly leading 7-4, then 9-5, and extending their advantage to 13-5 midway through the first quarter. Tunisia fought back to close the gap to 13-11, but Algeria surged again, ending the first quarter ahead 21-14. Algeria continued to build their lead, reaching a 13-point advantage with three minutes left before halftime.

At this crucial juncture, Tunisia mounted a remarkable comeback, clawing back 11 points. By halftime, Tunisia had reduced the deficit to just five points, trailing 29-24. After the break, Algeria initially pushed forward but couldn't shake off the determined Tunisians. Tunisia levelled the score at 31-31 and then took the lead with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter, moving ahead 39-33.

Seizing this pivotal moment, Tunisia took control of the game. Leading 44-35 at the end of the third quarter, they maintained their composure and steadily increased their advantage. With a solid defensive performance and improved offensive efficiency, Tunisia extended their lead to 52-35 and then to 56-38 with 1:40 remaining. The final moments saw Tunisia secure a decisive 61-40 victory.

Tunisia's hard-earned win sets up a showdown with Morocco in the final, where they will compete for a spot in the continental championship.

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[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of the Fédération Tunisienne de Basket Ball]