Afrobasket 2021 is shaping up towards becoming the most competitive, exciting and unpredictable tournament which has been played in recent memory. Heading into the quarterfinals, we have seen heroic and scintillating performances produced by Afrobasket novices Guinea, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda, while erstwhile tournament favourites Egypt and Nigeria, will have to go back to the drawing board, after failing to reach the quarterfinals. Senegal and Tunisia have been the standout teams so far, with Côte d’Ivoire also looking to build on their flawless group stage record. However, the Lusophone duo of continental giants Angola and an energised Cape Verde, are also looking forward to making it to the last stage, in what is set to be another exciting round of Afrobasket action.

Côte d’Ivoire v Guinea

Côte d’Ivoire: As I highlighted in my Afrobasket preview article, Côte d’Ivoire is a side which is always in the mix. They don’t possess jaw dropping individual jaw talent like Senegal or the meticulous team chemistry which Tunisia does, but they are an experienced and efficient side, which always comes to the party. Côte d’Ivoire won all three Group C fixtures, including a 77-68 win over initial group favourites Nigeria. Côte d’Ivoire’s charge to the top has been led a new addition to Les Elephants, Matt Costello. The Spanish-based forward leads the competition in scoring, averaging 19 points per game (ppg) through the first three contests and is also doing well on the boards, collecting 8.7 rebounds per game (rpg). These efforts have been supported by the trio of Vafessa Fofana, Nisre Zouzoua and 42 year old Stephane Kontae, who are each averaging 10 points each (they say age ain’t nothin’ but a number huh). Souleyman Diabate, who won the Basketball Africa League (BAL) finals with Egyptian side Zamalek in May, is also providing 6.3 assists per game (apg). Côte d’Ivoire has a good balance of reliable inside and outside scorers, which led them to have the second most potent offense of all participating teams during the group phase. Les Elephants also play good defense, never allowing above 70 points during their three previous outings, which will come handy against a Guinea side which has struggled offensively for most of the tournament. Côte d’Ivoire’s head coach, Ignacio Lezkano, led to Les Elephants to the semifinals at Afrobasket 2013 and hopes to replicate that feat, with a win over Guinea.

Guinea: Guinea, which is known as the Syli National, or the Elephants, in the local Soussou language, has been the surprise package not only at the knockout stages but throughout this tournament in general. Guinea lost all three games they played at Afrobasket 2017 and came into the tournament as the lowest placed team in FIBA rankings, standing at 122. Guinea continued their dismal 2017 trajectory by getting blown out by Tunisia 82-46 and losing narrowly to Central African Republic 61-60 during their first two Afrobasket 2021 fixtures. But as I always say, basketball is a funny sport and in their last group match, Guinea managed to defeat tournament contenders Egypt, 86-78. To underscore the improbability of Guinea’s feat, it was their first Afrobasket win since 1985….From thereof, Guinea seems to be on a run, which saw them shock tournament hosts Rwanda, in a 72-68 thriller, during the knockout stage qualifier. Guinea is led by 35 year old Cedric Mansare, who plies his professional trade in France. Mansare, has averaged 16.5 ppg throughout the competition, including a 25 point outburst during Guinea’s win against Egypt. Mohamed Queta another France-based player, will also be key to Guinea going further in the competition. Guinea’s ability to score in the fourth quarter, has largely contributed to them reaching this point. Guinea’s head coach Zeljko Zecevic, who also coaches their under-18 squad and has been at the helm of African club giants AS Sale and US Monastir, will hope this trend replicates itself in this classic West African derby.

Prediction: Côte d’Ivoire has enough firepower to get past Guinea, but the Syli National have nothing too lose. If they heat up in the fourth quarter like they did against Egypt and Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire might be in big trouble.

Senegal v Angola

Senegal: Judging from their group play Senegal looks like reaching the finals will be a simple formality, after winning their three group fixtures by a combined 100 points. Senegal’s charge has been led by the young and exciting Brancou Badio. The Barcelona shooting guard leads Senegal in scoring, averaging 18.3 ppg and also provides 6.5 apg. Badio is a frontrunner for the Afrobasket, Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy and alongside Henry Pierria, whose dishing out a team high 6.5 apg, has established one of the most potent backcourts in the tournament. In his characteristic manner, team captain Gorgui Dieng, whose playing in his third Afrobasket, is leading by example and quietly having another stellar tournament averaging 17.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg. His efforts have been complemented by Ibrahima Faye and Alga Ndiaye who both average 12 ppg. In addition to the having the most potent offense in the competition, Senegal also has one of the stingiest defenses, giving up an average of 65 ppg, during the group fixtures. The knockout stages are a different ball game, but if coach Boniface Ndong’s players can carry this momentum into the next round, the Teranga Lions should easily sail through to the semifinals and beyond.

Angola: Heading into the competition, it was clear Angola was no longer the same team which used to send shivers up every African national teams spines, however, their two losses in the opening group fixtures to Cape Verde and tournament hosts Rwanda, was a further indication of how much Angola had fallen off the way side. Nevertheless, Angola subsequently proved they are a team which under no circumstances should be counted out, after defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the final group game and Egypt in the first knockout fixture, 70-62. Angola, seems to be hitting their stride at the right time and will turn to a familiar figure in five time Afrobasket champion Carlos Morais to help Angola continue their string of victories. The squad will also need massive contributions from Jilson Bango to overcome a Senegal squad who are clearly more fancied in this fixture. Angola has not been a prolific offensive unit, averaging only 70 ppg throughout the tournament and will look to their fairly solid defensive play, to keep the Senegalese in check. This might prove difficult, as Angola has not dealt well with strong and athletic big men, as Cape Verde’s, Walter Tavares demonstrated in their win against Angola. Senegal has an abundance of players who fit this profile and Bango alongside Aboubakar Gakou, will have their work cut out during the course of the match in this regard to keep them in-check.

Prediction: Senegal should win handily, but Angola won’t go down without a fight.