Morocco get the final roar against Angola

The game got off to a very slow start for Angola as Morocco started the game firing in all cylinders. Rayane Solhi caught so much fire that he could not miss. He found himself at 12 points in the first quarter. A stark contrast to his counterpart, Aginaldo Neto, from Angola. Neto did not score a single point in the first quarter and that would prove costly for this Angolan team as they trailed 24-12 at the end of the first quarter.

It was certainly the Solhi Show in the first quarter but that wouldn't have been possible without the help of Omar Karem who had 6 points in the first quarter. Angola was inspired by the efforts of NBA Academy player, Manuel Camboma, who had 6 points and David Youdela who had 5 points.

Angola bounced back in the second quarter, cutting down their deficit to seven points halfway through the second quarter. At this point, Aginaldo Neto still had not recorded a single point but continued to get his team going. This run was interrupted when Mateus Abraem picked up 3 quick fouls and was called to the bench. From then on things just seemed to go south for Angola as they found themselves trailing 37-22 with a few seconds left in the quarter as Neto got an and-one and a free-throw which he converted to get on the scoresheet. Those would be his only points in the half whilst Solhi was up to 14 and Karem up to 10.T hey would go into the half at 37-25 to Morocco.

Omar Karem had the following to say after the game:

I am so proud of my team. It's the first time for Morocco to go to top 4. We have to win one game for our objective for the World Cup. The team trusts me and I came in with the mentality that I want to win and this is the key

The third quarter was better as Angola went on an 11-0 run to bring the game to within 6 points but that was short lived as Morocco bounced back through some meaningful contributions from Mohamed Bahmar with 8 points.

The quarter ended with Morocco leading 49-38. The frustrations on the senior Angolan players showed as they would show discontent with their coach’s rotations. Neto managed to get up to 8 points at the end of this quarter but Morocco held on strongly to their lead. Morocco started the fourth quarter and ended it in the same way when they took the lead up to 20 points at 58-38 and that really took the wind out of Angola.

They tried to fight back but found it difficult with Abraem and Camboma spending a lot of time on the bench. Neto upped the ante as he tried to will his team to a comeback but it was not to be as Rayane Solhi and Omar Karem kept Morocco in the front seat with 22 and 18 points respectively. Morocco advance to the semifinals after outclassing Angola 61-45. They continue in search of not only their first ever podium finish but also their first ever FIBA U18 AfroBasket title. They also want to go to the final as that secures them a spot in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2025

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[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]