Day two of FIBA AfroBasket 2021 was highlighted by a 38-point blowout victory and a forfeit in Group D.
The Group D game between Cameroon and South Sudan was declared a forfeit in South Sudan’s favor due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols for Cameroon.
The game was awarded to South Sudan with a score of 20-0 and Cameroon will receive zero classification points.
Two Cameroon players first registered positive tests upon arrival to Kigali, Rwanda and were asymptomatic.
Two other players and a training staff member then tested positive for COVID-19.
The situation will continue to be monitored going forward.
In the first game of the day from Group C, Nigeria took down Mali 81-73.
Nigeria was led by Benjamin Emelogu (18 points on 6-of-10 from three-point, eight rebounds, four assists) and Stephen Domingo (16 points, five rebounds, two assists).
Mali had four players score double figures in Ibrahim Djambo (18 points), Benke Diarouma (11 points), Mamadou Keita (11 points) and Siriman Kanoute (11 points).
In a Group D game, Senegal blew past Uganda 93-55.
It’s only one game, but Senegal looked like a real championship contender, as they led by as many as 45.
NBA center Gorgui Dieng led the way for Senegal with 19 points and eight rebounds.
Senegal had strong backcourt play, as Brancou Badio (six assists) and naturalized player Pierria Henry (eight assists) combined for 14 assists, almost as many as Uganda had as a team (17).
Uganda dealt with foul trouble early with key players Ish Wainright and Deng Geu both picking up three fouls in the first half.
Uganda also struggled with their shot, shooting 27 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three-point.
In the final game of the day, Cote d’Ivoire took down Kenya 88-70.
Kenya is in their first AfroBasket since 1993.
The score doesn’t truly indicate how close the game was, as Kenya trailed 71-65 with less than five minutes to play.
They were then outscored 17-5 to close out the game.
Cote d’Ivoire was led by naturalized player Matt Costello, who recorded 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Kenya was led by Tylor Ongwae with 25 points, six rebounds and four assists, and was the team’s only scorer in double figures.
Groups C and D standings:
Group C
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cote d’Ivoire | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 88 | 70 | 18 | 88 | 70 | 2 |
| 2 | Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 81 | 73 | 8 | 81 | 73 | 2 |
| 3 | Mali | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 73 | 81 | -8 | 73 | 81 | 1 |
| 4 | Kenya | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70 | 88 | -18 | 70 | 88 | 1 |
Next games for Group C: Kenya vs. Nigeria and Mali vs. Cote d’Ivoire on Aug. 27.
Group D
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senegal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 93 | 55 | 38 | 93 | 55 | 2 |
| 2 | South Sudan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Uganda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 93 | -38 | 55 | 93 | 1 |
| 4 | Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | -20 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
Next games for Group D: Uganda vs. Cameroon and South Sudan vs. Senegal on Aug. 27.
Credit: Talkbasket
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