Senegal have won their first game at the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2024, as they have saw off Côte d’Ivoire in a clash of West African nations. The Young Lions claimed a 69-63 victory after four tense quarters, in a game that ended as it began.
Last Updated on
September 8, 2024
Jonathan Oriant
Staff Writer
Ousseynou Sambe powered the Senegalese team to victory with a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Codé Mbengue added another 10 points and 10 rebounds to the winning cause.
Côte d’Ivoire, on the other side, relied on a more collective effort in this second game as four players finished with double digits to their credit. Theo Chaney (14 points, 3 rebounds), Alexandre Camille Nfomoum-Lomby (12 points,9 rebounds), Caleb Chris Alex Ourigou (12 points, 8 rebounds), and Malcolm Laubouet (10 points, 3 rebounds) threw their all in the battle, but it availed to a short loss.
It was, however, the Young Elephants that lit up the fuse in this high-profile game, claiming the first quarter 19-13. When Cheikh Bamba Thiam fired the first shots one minute into the game, Côte d’Ivoire responded back, with a three-pointer from Zie Cheick Hassan Conde to take the lead 3-2.
Chaney adding one free throw and a layup, and Gomis Matheo Boedi homing two other free throws, gave Côte d’Ivoire a six-point lead (8-2), before Senegal responded with shots from El Hadji Doudou Diahame and Thiam.
Chaney, Labouet, Ourigou, Nfomoum-Lomby and Nelson Tiemoko Lamizana JR combined their efforts to give Côte d’Ivoire a comfortable lead (19-13) by the end of the first quarter.
But Senegal would wake up in the second round and called it theirs with a 20-10 run, thanks to Sambe, Mane N’Faba, Yakhya Diop. Half-time marked the first turn of the game, as Senegal grabbed the lead (33-29).
But Côte d’Ivoire would have nothing to do with it. Leaning on the usuals - Ourigou, Nfomoum-Lomby, Boedi – they would turn the tables around and claim the third quarter with a 16-10 run. This marked a new lead in the game, as they were in front 45-43.
This fragile lead was subject to change as Cheikh Biteye and Ousseynou Sambe led the charge for Senegal in the last quarter. Though they were sometimes outpaced, they kept their cool.
With Chaney giving the Young Elephants a three-point lead (61-58), Tidiane Ludovic Didier D'Almeida fired a shot from downtown to level up (61-61).
When Cheikh Biteye once again put Senegal out in front, Ourigou helped Côte d’Ivoire level (63-63). This would be Côte d’Ivoire’s final points in the game.
Biteye and Mbengue would bury any ambitions Côte d’Ivoire might have had left at this time, with a layup, two three throws and a dunk, which happened with only nine seconds to go. Senegal have suffered, but this win puts them back on track.
Senegal's coach, Parfait Avignon, was more than happy with the role his bench played contributing 51 points to the collective effort.
"At this level, we need to have an excellent bench. Our bench had to be constant and help bring another layer to the game," said coach Avignon.
Meanwhile, Côte d’Ivoire’s Theo Chaney regrets losing in the final seconds. Senegal also banked on the size difference to pave their way to success. Côte d'Ivoire still have a chance to make it to the Final Eight. They only need to focus on the next game if they want to make it.
“We had a great start and we fought till the end. But we had so many turnovers, which did not help us, and we lost the game. They were tall. We tried to attack them from the paint to no avail. We need to forget this game and get to the other as soon as possible. I ask the fans to believe in us and we’ll make it.”
Côte d’Ivoire will play Mali for their next game, in an attempt to win and grab one of the tickets at stake for the Quarter-Finals.
[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]
