Today

7-8th placeAlgeria vs Ivory Coast 12:15pm

5-6th placeRwanda vs DR Congo 2:30pm

3-4th placeTunisia vs Mali 4:45pm

FinalEgypt vs Angola 7pm

SaturdayUganda 70-66 BeninDR Congo 77-66 AlgeriaIvory Coast 74-76 RwandaAngola 92-58 TunisiaEgypt 77-74 Mali

Defending champions Egypt beat Mali 77-74 in the second semi-final of the FIBA-Africa U18 Basketball Championship to set up a final showdown against Angola to be played on Sunday evening at Amahoro indoor stadium, starting at 7pm.

Egypt’s victory did not only end Mali’s five-game winning streak in the tournament, but it also spoiled their attempt to reach the final.

Earlier in the first semi-final game that was a repeat of the last edition, Angola thrashed Tunisia 92-58 in a one-sided encounter.

Angola has not only finished their Group B campaign undefeated, but they also become the team that opponents would rather avoid at any stage of this competition. Angola beat Egypt 84-65 in the final Group B game.

In the classification games, Mali face Tunisia to determine who finishes in position 3-4, while DR Congo will be vying for positions 5-6 against hosts Rwanda, who beat Ivory Coast 76-72 yesterday. The Ivorians take on Algeria for positions.

Debutants Uganda finished 9th after edging Gabon 70-66 in the closely contested game. Kevin Nze Mba dropped 23 points and picked seven rebounds for Gabon, who are placed 10th.

Regardless of the winner between Egypt and Angola in the final, both team will represent Africa at next year’s FIBA U19 World Championship, in Egyp—the first-ever FIBA world youth men’s event staged on the continent.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw