Angola Survives Blue Sharks attack to reach first AfroBasket semifinals in a decade

Angola dug deep in the closing stages to secure a hard-fought 90-80 victory over Cape Verde in Luanda on Thursday night, punching their ticket to the AfroBasket semifinals for the first time since 2015.

In front of a raucous, sold-out crowd of 12,700 fans — with tickets snapped up two days before tip-off — the hosts mounted yet another late rally to survive a heart-stopping finish against the tournament’s surprise package. The win keeps Angola’s unbeaten run alive and cements their status as one of the championship favorites.

Angola now boasts a perfect 4-0 record at the tournament, showcasing composure, grit, and valuable experience to close out a tense contest. They became the first group winner to advance to the semifinals at this year’s AfroBasket — a feat that eluded other top seeds like Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, and Nigeria.

Côte d'Ivoire were edged out by Mali, Egypt fell to a resurgent Cameroon, and Nigeria’s D’Tigers couldn’t get past a dominant Senegalese side.

Angola was led by Childe Dundao, who delivered a standout performance with a game-high 30 points. Aboubacar Gakou also made a strong contribution, adding 14 points. For Cape Verde, Joel Almeida provided a spark off the bench with 19 points, while Edy Tavares chipped in 17.

Cape Verde, Africa’s third-ranked team, started brightly and led throughout the first half. They claimed the first quarter 24-15, but Angola responded in the second, outscoring them 25-21 to cut the deficit. The Blue Sharks held a slim 45-40 lead at halftime, but couldn’t sustain their momentum down the stretch.

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The second half began much like the end of the third quarter, with Cape Verde pushing hard through fast breaks and capitalizing on free throws. They edged the third quarter 23-20, intensifying the pressure on the home side. Angola now faced the daunting task of delivering a big final quarter—an outright win was the only way to secure a spot in the semifinals.

The fourth quarter was a tense, back-and-forth battle. Both teams struggled with turnovers under immense pressure. With the score tied at 75-75 and less than five minutes remaining, it became clear that only strong, experienced game management would determine the winner.

Late in the game, Dundao and Miguel hit two crucial three-pointers that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Miguel’s clutch three-pointer gave Angola a three-point lead with 1:43 left on the clock, forcing Cape Verde to call a timeout.

Upon returning, the Blue Sharks suffered a costly shot-clock violation, followed by a foul on their end. That sequence marked the turning point. Angola capitalized, pulling away to close the game with a commanding ten-point victory, advancing to their first AfroBasket semifinal in a decade.

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The turnovers didn’t help the Cape Verde Islanders as they made 29 points from turnover situations as against their own 14. They also posted 42 points from the bench as against Cape Verde’s 34 points off the bench.

“It was a tough game for us because our games against Cape Verde always go this route but we are very grateful and I really thank my teammate for tonight because they fought well, worked well and ensured that we got the win.”

Edy Tavares chipped in with AfricaBasket and said that they tried winning the game not minding the situation.

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“We know it is gonna be tough because they have the home court and the crowd behind them. We really tried hard to win this game but it didn't happen and we really tried.”

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No shame for Cape Verde, they performed in Angola and competed well, an outing they should be very proud of. Next up for Angola will be a date with destiny when they square off against Cameroon for a place in the final.