This was a game for history books as Senegal rose to the occasion as they saw off Egypt in the third quarter-final (68-61). The Teranga Lions built their success buoyed by a more productive bench (32 points) and with a slicker attack from inside the paint.
Last Updated on
September 13, 2024
Egypt will not be able to defend the title they won two years ago in Madagascar. With this defeat, the Pharaohs will witness the crowning of a new African king on Sunday and will be cursing their cruel lack of skill in the paint, which saw them score just six points, while Senegal came away with 28 points of their own.
The match had everything going for it. Especially for the Egyptians, who got off to a strong start with a shot from behind the arc by Anas Walid Ahmed Rezk. Senegal responded immediately with Codé Mbengue, but Omar Mohamed Mahmoud Aboelmagd Aly put the North Africans back in front with a layup.
Rezk gave the Egyptians a seven-point advantage with a pair of three-pointers (11-4). But Cheikh Bamba Thiam sounded the revolt and started the Senegalese comeback 11-6, 14-7, 14-10.
Mohammed Tarek Khairy Hussin kept the Lions of Teranga at bay with a jump shot (16-10), but Mbengue and Cheikh Biteye were having none of it.
Between them, they carried Senegal back into the lead, then overtook the Egyptians for the first time (17-16). Georges Boissy put his teammates in the clear with two free throws.
The first quarter ended 19-16, and the battle for the lead resumed in earnest in the second quarter. Senegal led by five points (21-16), but the two teams would find themselves level (22-22) with just over six minutes to go before half-time.
Until then, the two teams traded blows until Thiam and his teammates pulled away (32-28) at the end of a quarter won by the West Africans (13-12).
The third quarter was a repeat of the previous scenario, except that both teams scored 15 points each.
In the final period, the Egyptians were faltering, unable to claw their way back into the game. Although they were getting dangerously close to the lead, they were unable to capitalize on their chances.
Senegal could not have asked for more. In the end, three points separated the two teams (21-18).
Egypt's last attempts to get back on level terms came to nothing. By contrast, Senegal's attempts were more successful, and at 58-62, Tidiane Ludovic Didier d'Almeida scored a series of six free throws to seal the game for good (68-61).
Code Mbengue, reacting on the heels of the game, explained that Senegal had learned from their mistakes.
“Losing to Mali hurt us. We saw what we lacked in terms of commitment. We sorted that out in the following matches against Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon. I'd like to thank the coach and the players, who gave their all to the match."
He finished the game with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Cheikh Biteye scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 24 minutes. The other Senegalese hero was Ousseynou Sambe (12 points, 9 rebounds).
With the elimination of Egypt, a new champion will be crowned on Sunday and what if it was Senegal?
[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]
