Game Report: In a crucial Round of 16 matchup at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup, Guinea's hopes were dashed as they fell 77-55 to a dominant Spanish team. The young Guinean squad struggled offensively, managing a dismal 7.1% from beyond the arc and just 38.7% overall from the field.
Last Updated on
July 4, 2024
Fanya Nkengasong
Staff Writer
After two defeats against the USA and France and a victory against China, Syli Basket entered the Round of 16 in the U17 World Cup, hoping to advance further. A win against Spain would have secured them a spot in the quarterfinals against the winner of the Turkey-Germany match.
Spain, a formidable team that won all three of its group stage matches against Puerto Rico (89-63), the Philippines (96-34), and Lithuania (80-75), started strong, taking the first quarter 34-11. However, Guinea tightened their defence in the second period, matching their opponents and even outscoring them 15-7 in the quarter.
Abdourahmane Touré led the charge for Guinea, scoring 13 points by halftime and finishing the game with 22 points. Despite this effort, Spain maintained a 41-26 lead at the half.
The Spaniards resumed control in the third quarter, outscoring Guinea 20-13 and extending their lead to 61-41, heading into the final period with a comfortable 20-point advantage.
Guinea held their own in specific areas, such as defensive rebounds (20-20) and offensive rebounds (12-11). However, their lack of cohesive team play and possibly insufficient preparation matches were evident. Despite this, pivot Arfan Diane's outstanding performance, achieving a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, further solidified his reputation as one of the best pivots in the tournament.
Ultimately, despite the loss, Syli Basket's resilience was evident. Sharing the ball and scoring duties in the final quarter, they fought till the end. However, it was not enough to bridge the gap, and Spain secured a 77-55 victory, ending Guinea's run in the tournament.
[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]
