DRC recovers, Central African Republic beats Guinea by one point
After their initial defeat against the host country Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo won against Cape Verde and was revived in Group A in Afrobasket 2021, in Kigali. Identical dynamics for the Central African Republic, winning in the final seconds against Guinea in pool B.
The Congolese reacted well. After Rwandan bang the first day (68-82), DR Congo beat Cape Verde for their second match at Afrobasket 2021, Thursday 26 August (70-66).
From the beginning of the third quarter, Mathias Eckhoff’s men were before the match and even dominated 11 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Led by his pivot Henry Pwono, the scorer in the match with 19 points, the Congolese will play their qualification for the round of 16 on Saturday against Angola, beaten by Rwanda (71-68), but not out of the race.
Rwandans are guaranteed to see the knockout stages at home. On Saturday, they will be able to directly validate their ticket to the quarterfinals in the victory against Cape Verde, synonymous with first place in Group A.
Central African Republic shower Guinea Balayed by the Tunisian African champions on Tuesday (82-46), the Guineans once again left the Kigali Arena with bowed heads. In search of their first victory in this competition since 1985, Guinea lost again, by one point this time, against the Central African Republic (61-60).
Leading by 13 points in the second quarter, the Guineans managed to pick up and even pass in front. But the Central Africans regained the advantage at the end of the third quarter and let it go just one minute from the end on a two-point basket from Cédric Mansaré, the match’s goal scorer with 19 units.
After a three-point basket missed on each side, Central African Jimmy Djimrabaye, co-top scorer in his team (16), allowed the RCA to return to the front eight seconds from the end (61-60).
This first victory, after a defeat against Egypt, allows the Central African Republic to restart in the race for the round of 16, before meeting Tunisia on Saturday. Guinea will be forced to beat Egypt in hopes of qualifying.
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