Mali remain unbeaten after explosive Cameroon clash in U18 AfroBasket

The Malian side was determined to keep their unbeaten run but were not oblivious to the fact that Cameroon would fight just as hard. This was evident in the slow start to the game, but Mali picked up momentum and continued that way to end the quarter where they had the biggest lead of the game at 11 points.

Sekou Bagayako caught fire early in the half and continued to make shot after shot to carry this Malian team through. Mali’s intense defense landed them in foul trouble early in the first quarter. However, Cameroon could not capitalize on this opportunity as their free-throw woes continued. They shot 14/35 (40%) free-throws all game. This only hurt Mali as their main players could not stay on the court for long as they forced the hand of coach Moussa Cisse to make some substitutions.

Cameroon only picked up the pace in the second quarter and began to fight back with Hermann Bel’s efforts. However, Mali found second wind and opened the gap again in the second quarter after Cameroon tied the game. Mali managed to go back up 5points with a few seconds left in the second quarter when Cameroon went on a quick 6-0 run and take a one-point lead into the break.

There was very little to separate to separate both powerhouses as there were multiple lead changes between the two teams in the third quarter. Both teams resorted to changing their defensive setup. Often rotating among a zone, a man and a full court press. The physicality of the game kept the game close despite Cameroon having multiple opportunities to take the lead from the free-throw line but could not convert. Mali on the other hand shot slightly better but made their free-throws in crucial moments. Youssouf Traoré led his team on the line as he went 6/6. The third quarter ended the same way the second quarter did with Cameroon taking the lead late in the quarter.

Youssouf Traoré who ended the game with 12 points and 20 rebounds for Mali had the following to say:

We played well in the first quarter but we turned the ball over a lot in the second quarter. We even lost some rebounds. We went into the halftime break and we managed to speak. They [Cameroon] was not playing structured basketball so we just had to go back to being composed and that worked for us

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Things changed in the fourth quarter when Mali upped the ante and began to get more rebounds and led Cameroon to a lot of turnovers. Mali also had a significant contribution from their bench compared to that of Cameroon. Mali’s bench scored 28 points compared to Cameroon’s 8. The game remained close until the end where Mali eventually took a commanding eight-point lead after a 3-pointer by Sekou Bagayako of Mali with 1:11 left in the game.

Mali maintained that lead as they went on to win 62-58.This win takes them to the top of Group B as the only team to remain unbeaten. They will face Côte d’Ivoire on Tuesday to round off the group stages.

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[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]