Afrobasket 2017: Nigeria, Senegal, Morroco and Tunisia All Into Semifinals

[dopcap]A[/dropcap]fter an exciting and intense week of matches on the courts, the Men’s category of the 2017 African Basketball Championship or has reached the semifinals stage with the last four out of the 16 participating nations battling for the biannual continental title.

Four teams: Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, and reigning champion Nigeria yesterday advanced to the semifinals after securing a win in their respective matches at the Salle Omnisport de Rades in Tunis.

It was a milestone for Morocco after out casting Egypt 66-62 to reach the semis for the first time in more than three decades. Despite Egypt’s shooting guard Ibrahim El Gammal scoring the highest points (22) in the game, Moroccan veteran Zakaria El Masbahi played an instrumental role for the 1965 title winners to secure their slot in the last four.

Nigeria vs Cameroon (Highlights QuarterFinal ) final score (106 : 91)#AfroBasket 2017#basketball9ja#game #ilovethisgame #sohalivisual pic.twitter.com/VvSVUoFH9t

— Dauda sule (@sohalivisual) September 14, 2017

Morocco will today face Tunisia who advanced to the semis after bowing out DR Congo 81-60 points. DR Congo during the group stages produced a shocking result after defeating champions Nigeria 83-77 to advance to the quarterfinals, but was unfortunate against Tunisia. Today’s match between Morocco and Tunisia will be a repeat of the 1965 final when Morocco won the title for the first time after defeating Tunisia 70-57 in Tunis.

Having witnessed their female team,  the D’ Tigress emerging as champions of the 2017 Women’s AfroBasket, the D’ Tigers of Nigeria are on the path of retaining their title after sending off Cameroon 106-91to secure their ticket for the semifinals.

With two wins away from reclaiming their title, the D’Tigers will today battle five-time title winners, Senegal who last won the continental competition in 1997 against Nigeria in Dakar. It will be a fascinating repeat of the 1997 final when Senegal denied Nigeria the title after reaching the final for the first time.

Senegal, after an entertaining quarter on the court yesterday reached the semifinals for the third time in succession; they beat record title holders Angola 66-57 for the third time in row in the continental competition.

Feature photo: FIBA.Basketball