Senegal and Ivory Coast Qualify For 2021 Afrobasket Semifinal

Senegal and Ivory Coast Qualify For 2021 Afrobasket Semifinal By Our Reporter Senegal and Ivory Coast were the first countries to reach the semi-finals of the 2021 AfroBasket tournament in Rwanda. Senegal edged out Angola 79-74 in a see-saw contest at the Kigali Arena, with the Senegalese, the first nation to book a place at this stage of the competition, grateful for a dominant second quarter which ultimately proved the difference between the sides. Angola started strongly taking the first quarter 22-17, before Senegal dominated the second, winning it 27-11, to lead at the halfway point by a score of 44-33. It was the only quarter Senegal won in the game, but they staved off an Angola fightback in the second half to progress. Angola won quarter three by five points and the fourth quarter by a single point, but Senegal held on to prevail by a five-point margin. The victory means Senegal have beaten their opponents in their last three meetings at AfroBasket, and extends Senegal’s unbeaten record at this year’s tournament. "Tough and close game between #SEN and #ANG but the lions got the W in the last seconds of the game!@FSBBOFFICIEL got the first ticket of the semis! Congrats to the Teranga 🦁! SEN 79 ANG 74#AfroBasket #Afrobasketball2021 #Celebrate60 pic.twitter.com/PEUJLtV7Ku — FIBA AfroBasket (@AfroBasket) September 1, 2021." The day’s other quarter-final saw Ivory Coast run out emphatic 98-50 winners against Guinea. Ivory Coast claimed the opening quarter by ten points and the second by 21 points as they established a 55-24 advantage at the halfway point. There was no let up from the Elephants after the break as they took quarter three by 13 points and the fourth period by four points to run out winners by 48 points. Five Ivory Coast players finished with a double figure points tally, and the win means like their semi-final opponents, Senegal, they are unbeaten through four matches. Ivory Coast and Senegal are set to meet in the semi-finals on Saturday (September 4). Meanwhile, Tunisia will take on Cape Verde in the second Semifinal.