Africa Cup final matchups revealed: Angola vs Mali, Pelicans rookie with 7 blocks misses out on title chase

On August 24th Beijing time, during the men's basketball Africa Cup semifinals, Angola edged out Cameroon 74-73, while Mali overcame Senegal 88-80. Angola and Mali will battle for the Africa Cup title in a match set for 2 AM on August 25th, and Cameroon will play Senegal for third place at 11 PM on August 24th.

Angola 74-73 Cameroon

With one minute left on the clock, Cameroon led 71-69 by 2 points when Angola’s Gaku stole the ball from Naras. He then passed to the completely open Dundao, who hit a three-pointer that shifted the momentum of the game.

Immediately after, Miguel stepped to the free-throw line and made one of two shots, helping host Angola take their first lead since the first half, changing the score to 73-71.

Later, Pelicans center Missi scored two free throws to tie the game at 73-73 for Cameroon. Gaku made one of three free throws, ultimately securing a 74-73 victory for Angola.

Missi recorded 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 blocks, setting a new single-game block record for the Africa Cup. However, his mistake near the end of the fourth quarter added difficulty to Cameroon's comeback effort.

According to the schedule, Angola will face Mali in the final on Sunday, while Cameroon will compete against Senegal for third place in the tournament.

Mali 88-80 Senegal

Mali made history by reaching the Africa Cup final for the first time in their team’s history. They defeated Senegal 88-80 in the semifinals.

Mahaman Coulibaly scored 23 points, leading Mali to this historic victory. Kanoute (15 points, 8 assists) and Barro (19 points) were also key contributors who paved the way for Mali’s win.

Earlier in the tournament, Mali and Senegal met in a group stage match where Senegal won 80-70.

Defense and ball sharing were crucial to Mali’s success. Defensive rebounds (28), steals (11), and blocks (6) played vital roles in achieving their goal. Passing to open teammates also changed the game, as Mali recorded 23 assists.