YAOUNDE (Cameroon) – Lions of Cameroon sweat to get the better of Gabon in Tuesday’s Zone 4 Qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA AfroCAN at the Palais Polyvalent de Sports in a keenly contested match-up.
Cameroon now improved to 2-0 having defeated the Central Africa Republic (67-49) on the opening day on Monday.
Two other countries, Chad and Equatorial Guinea are fighting for the one spot on offer for the Zone.
Cameroon head coach, Francois Enyegue gave a thumb-up to players for being able to sock up the pressure mounted by the Gabonese side especially in last five minutes of the game.
Cameroon won the first two quarters,(27-20, 21-13) for a 15-point advantage going into the break.
But it was a Gabon show at the resumption of proceeding in the third quarter as they reduced the margin to 7-point an effort, but the coach Johd Masnoudji side to continue with the spirited play was rebuffed by the Lions in the last quarter as Cameroon made it with an 80-71 triumph.
Cameroon captain, Arnold Kowe who contributed 12 points for his side victory says they have their sight on making their debut in the second edition of the AfroCAN slated for July 7-16 in Angola.
The duo of Etienne Tametong Kalume and Engelbert Beleck both account for 35 points of the Lions total.
The quartet of Gabon Junior Loussi, Lerry Rostand Essono Mvé, Farrel Drexler Dimidimba and Dolivitch Mbupomo were red for 46 of their side 71 points.
“We will make some adjustments by not losing the ball too often in our remaining three games against Chad, Central Africa Republic and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon,” Coach, Johd Masnoudji told FIBA.basketball.
Source : FIBA