Angola vs Mali

Angola's third-quarter surge decided the contest. After leading by just two at the break (43-41), the hosts opened the second half with a 12-4 run that pushed the lead to 55-45. Mali called timeout but could not stem the flow. Angola's ball movement and outside shooting created separation that proved decisive — once the lead reached double figures with five minutes left in the third, the visitors never got closer than seven points.

Abou Gakou (Angola) — The guard was the most dangerous offensive weapon on the floor, scoring efficiently from inside and out. After leading Angola with 15 points against Egypt on 4 July, he again topped the scoring chart. Player of the Match.

Bruno Fernando (Angola) — The big man controlled the paint on both ends, grabbing key rebounds and altering shots. His interior presence forced Mali's perimeter players into difficult finishes at the rim.

Siriman Kanoute (Mali) — The Mali playmaker kept his team in the game with creative drives and mid-range shooting, but Angola's second-half defensive traps limited his effectiveness after the break.

Aliou Fadiala Diarra (Mali) — Provided energy around the rim with put-backs and finishes close to the basket, but was starved of touches once Angola's lead grew.

Angola's 88 points exceeded their tournament average of 84 per game, while Mali's 74 fell well below their 82-point average — a direct reflection of the defensive intensity Angola brought on home court. The hosts averaged 49.5% on two-pointers and 33.1% from three-point range across the qualifying window, and against Mali they exploited both areas effectively in the second half. The decisive margin came in transition: Angola capitalised repeatedly on Mali's turnovers, turning defensive stops into fast-break points that built the double-digit lead.

Mali finish the first round at 5-1 (11 points), top of Group D, despite this loss. Angola close at 4-2 (10 points) in second place. Egypt secured the third Second Round berth from Group D with their historic 79-73 win over Angola on 4 July — their first victory over the reigning African champions in more than three decades. Uganda were eliminated without a win (0-6).

Both Angola and Mali advance to the Second Round, which begins on 27 August 2026. Angola will carry momentum from a bounce-back win on home soil; Mali will aim to regroup after tasting defeat for the first time in the campaign. The top three teams from each Second Round group qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

• Venue: Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda, Luanda (Angola)
• Referees: Didier Gaga (RWA), Imad Driouach (MAR), Antonio Sitoe (MOZ)
• Technical Delegate: Nachid Messaoudi (ALG)
• Kick-off: 5 July 2026, 19:00 local time (18:00 UTC)

Angola proved they remain formidable on home soil, bouncing back from the Egypt loss 24 hours earlier with a disciplined, complete performance. Mali's first defeat of the campaign does not erase their historic unbeaten run — their longest winning streak in national team history — but it exposed the gap they must close to compete with Africa's elite in the Second Round.