Afrobasket all time winners, Angola with unrivalled 11 titles got a great scare in the 4th quarterfinal of the ongoing tournament against hopeful Cape Verde winning via energetic photo finish of 90-80 baskets.
Cape Verde ranked 45 in the world which has never won the title was making a 7th appearance that had a best performance of a Bronze medal in 2017 when she beat Egypt.
She had made quarterfinals in 2013 where she placed 6th in ranking at that competition and at the last tournament in 2021 Cape Verde placed 4th only to come and create tension with attempted upset of hosts Angola.
On Thursday night in Luanda, Angola won the 1st quarter 24-15 and the 2nd quarter 31-25 to go into half time with a comfortable 55-40 points.
On the 3rd quarter, Cape Verde came smoking winning 23-20; at a stage in the 4th quarter total scores were 75-75 before the stadium roars gingered the Angolans to show all the champions stuff described in Nigeria as THE ODOGWU OF AFRICAN BASKETBALL by which the hosts took the 4th quarter 25-17 winning it in the last 5 minutes.
Angola had won the title 4 times back to back in 1989-1997, erased her own record to win 6 times back to back (only African country to have that impeccable record) 2001-2011. Last won the title in 2013.
Thus the semifinal pairings scheduled for Saturday 23rd August are now clear with Mali to face Senegal. Mali dismissed Ivory Coast 102-96 while Nigeria fell to Senegal 97-75 in the quarterfinals.
The 2nd semifinal will now be between Lions of Cameroon which Nigeria had once beaten at the group stages but roared back to devour the Pharaohs of Egypt 99-68 earlier on Thursday evening in the quarterfinal and now to meet hosts Angola that scaled through the difficult Cape Verde hurdle 90-80. That will also be after the 1st semifinal of 23rd August.
The 3rd place match precedes the grand finale on 24th August
