Angola has won the African Basketball Championship twelve times. It's also been 12 years since its last triumph. But this Sunday, history once again wrote Angola's name among the champions.
The head of state, João Lourenço, watched the national team's victory over Mali (70-43) and congratulated all the members of the Angolan delegation, making a point of congratulating them individually.
After attending the trophy presentation and the celebrations following the victory, João Lourenço also made a point of leaving a message for the national team: "Angolan basketball has proven, at the greatest African sporting festival, its capacity and resilience, setting an example of belief and determination to our youth," stated the President of the Republic.
Greeting the athletes, coaching staff, and all those who contributed to making this victory possible, João Lourenço also spoke of "a wave of joy that spread throughout the country," noting that the power of sport in projecting Angola's image at the African and international level had once again been demonstrated. This influence, he added, is expected to extend not only to other sports but also to various spheres of economic and social life.
The President also had a word for the crowd, whose turnout he considered extraordinary, stating that their massive support for the team demonstrated the nation's unity, especially in the year celebrating 50 years of National Independence, affirming that they are united and determined to honor their collective victories.
