Angola reclaimed its throne in African basketball on Sunday night, crushing Mali 70–43 before a capacity crowd in Luanda to capture the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket
Zig Diaries Sports
Date: Sunday, 24 August 2025
Time: 15:00 WAT
Location: 📍 Luanda, Angola
The victory sealed Angola’s record-extending 12th continental title and ended a 12-year wait since their last championship in 2013, underscoring their return as Africa’s undisputed powerhouse.
In a display
of sheer dominance, Angola’s national basketball team stormed to victory in
front of a roaring home crowd, defeating Mali 70-43 to win the 2025 FIBA
AfroBasket championship at the Kilamba Arena. The triumph cements Angola’s
unrivalled status in African basketball with a record twelfth continental
title.
The win was
historic not only for its margin but also for ending a 12-year drought since
their last championship in 2013. It capped off a flawless campaign for the
Palanças, who closed the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, demonstrating
unmatched defensive intensity and a fluid offensive rhythm that no opponent
could withstand.
From the
opening whistle, Angola imposed their will on Mali, applying relentless
pressure and executing a polished team performance. The packed 12,700-seat
Kilamba Arena transformed into a sea of red and black, with the home crowd’s
energy pushing their team to deliver one of the most dominant finals in
AfroBasket history.
While
Angola’s victory was decisive, Mali also made history by reaching the final for
the first time. Their 4-3 record and runner-up finish marked a milestone for Malian
basketball, announcing their emergence as a rising force on the continent. For
Senegal, the bronze medal was secured with a comfortable 98-72 win over
Cameroon, making it the third consecutive tournament in which they finished
third.
Individual honors further highlighted Angola’s supremacy. Guard Childe Dundao was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, also earning a place in the All-Tournament Team alongside his teammate Bruno Fernando. Mali’s Mahamane Coulibaly and Aliou Diarra joined them on the list, with Senegal’s Brancou Badio completing the lineup after leading in both scoring and three-point shooting. Diarra was honored as Leading Rebounder, while Madagascar collected the Fair Play award.
Fact Check and Background Context
Angola remains the most decorated team in AfroBasket history with twelve titles, surpassing traditional rivals like Senegal and Nigeria.
Their last championship came in 2013 in Abidjan, before Nigeria and Tunisia dominated the intervening years. Mali’s silver medal marks their highest-ever finish, surpassing their previous best of third place in 1972.
The Kilamba Arena in Luanda, completed in 2013, is one of Africa’s premier indoor venues and has played host to numerous international tournaments.
The tournament is organized every four years under the FIBA Africa framework and serves as a qualifying pathway for global basketball competitions.
🏷 Tags: Angola, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, AfroBasket,
Basketball, Luanda, Kilamba Arena, Childe Dundao, Bruno Fernando
#ZigDiariesSports #AfroBasket2025 #AngolaBasketball #MaliBasketball
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