Surprisingly, Mali defeated Ivory Coast 102-96 in the Afrobasket quarterfinals at the Kilamba Pavilion in Luanda. They became the first team to secure a spot in the semifinals.
Mali led 12 points at halftime, but the match ended in a 90-all tie in regulation. The winner was decided in overtime, with Mali proving more effective and securing a six-point lead.
The winning team's top scorer was Malian center Aliou Diarra, who scored 35 points.
In the second game of the quarterfinals, Senegal defeated Nigeria by a commanding 91-75, securing their spot in the semifinals and setting up a match against Mali.
In a game considered "easy," Senegal led by 11 points at halftime, and they continued to lead into the final victory.
Senegalese Brancou Badio once again made his mark on the field, leading the scoreboard with 32 points.
The first Afrobasket semifinal, which will pit Mali against Senegal next Saturday at the Kilamba Pavilion, is now decided.
