Cameroon secure narrow win over Madagascar, progress to 2-0 in Group B

Cameroon secure narrow win over Madagascar, progress to 2-0 in Group B

Cameroon entered the court knowing a win would secure their spot at the top of the group, but Madagascar made sure it would not come easily. The underdogs matched the Lions' physicality and pace, forcing every possession to matter.

Early in the game, Mathias M'Madi stunned the crowd by carving his way into the lane with a mix of quick first steps and slick ball-handling, piling up six points before Cameroon could settle in. By the first quarter's end, the scoreboard reflected just how close the battle was, with the Lions holding only a two-point edge.

“Madagascar is a great team, and they made a lot of shots and three-pointers. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but it’s good to be challenged. But we made sure we came out of it with a win”, says Cameroon Tamenang Choh.

The second quarter turned into a trading post for highlight plays. Madagascar’s Sitraka Raharimanantoanina threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk after slicing through the defense, only for Cameroon’s Tamenang Choh to answer with an explosive baseline slam of his own.

Even so, it was discipline at the line that began to tilt the game in Cameroon’s favor. Kevin Bayehe sank six straight free throws to push his side in front, and Hill added a scoring burst that sent them into halftime up 46-38.

The third quarter saw Cameroon’s momentum wobble. Fabian Ateba’s deep three briefly gave them breathing room, but Madagascar’s resilience shone through. Lovasoa Andriatsarafara asserted himself inside, pairing a string of close-range finishes with dominance on the boards.

Then came Kiady Razanamahenina, calmly converting five free throws in the final seconds of the period to erase the deficit. A clutch corner triple from Narace restored Cameroon’s lead heading into the last frame. What followed was a back-and-forth duel of willpower.

The lead flipped three times in the opening minutes of the fourth, with Razanamahenina again proving deadly from mid-range. Madagascar rode his scoring run to a five-point advantage, and suddenly the upset seemed real. But Hill refused to let it happen. A pair of free throws, followed by a dagger three-pointer, brought the game level once more.

With just under a minute to go, Ateba nudged Cameroon ahead from the stripe. Then, with the clock bleeding away, Hill dribbled into the lane, drew a defender, and leaned back into a delicate floater that banked softly off the glass—basket good, crowd roaring, and a two-point cushion secured.

Madagascar, still fighting, got a quick jumper from Razanamahenina, but Hill iced the contest with one last free throw. As the buzzer sounded, the scoreboard showed a narrow three-point victory for the Indomitable Lions—more a sigh of relief than a celebration.

Hill’s performance was the headline. Playing without frontcourt anchor Yves Missi, he carried the offensive load, tallying 21 points and handing out seven assists. His poise under pressure turned what could have been a crushing defeat into a statement of grit. Narace’s 15 points provided steady support, while Ateba and Choh chipped in with timely plays that mattered when the margins were razor-thin.

For Madagascar, Razanamahenina’s 29 points were a masterclass in scoring under duress, his composure at the line keeping his team in the hunt until the very end. M’Madi’s 16 points reflected his early-game spark, while Andriatsarafara posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring the team’s interior presence on both ends.

But coach John Douaglin, who leads Madagascar at this 2025 AfroBasket, is prouder than ever of his charges. Lack of experience played against the islanders, but this game will go down in history as a reference.

“There are a lot of young players on the team. We had lots of turnovers, but overall, they did very well ! We learnt a lot, and we’ll keep on working to make this team grow. I couldn’t be prouder of what they did today”, he added.

Statistically, Cameroon’s edge came from hustle and opportunism. They punished turnovers for 11 points, dominated transition with 19 fast-break and second-chance points, and owned the paint 34–28. Their bench outscored Madagascar’s reserves by 23 points, a difference-maker in such a tight contest.

The win pushed Cameroon to a perfect 2-0 record in Group B, setting up a high-stakes meeting with Nigeria for control of the pool. Yet if this game proved anything, it’s that no opponent can be overlooked. Madagascar’s tenacity nearly rewrote the group standings and served as a reminder that heart and execution can rival size and pedigree.

As the players left the floor, Hill’s final floater still replayed in the minds of fans—an elegant finish to a game that tested every ounce of Cameroon’s resolve. The Indomitable Lions had climbed the mountain, but only just.

[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]