Côte d’Ivoire edged Cape Verde 82-81 in a thrilling 2025 AfroBasket Group A clash, sealed by Jean Philippe Dally’s buzzer-beater. The dramatic win gives the Ivorians their second victory, keeping hopes alive for a flawless group-stage campaign.
Last Updated on
August 16, 2025
The clash between reigning AfroBasket silver medalist Cote d'Ivoire and losing Semifinalists Cape Verde lived up to expectations with Jean Philippe Dally hitting a buzzer-beating shot to lead the former to an 82-81 victory.
It was arguably the most dramatic finish in the 2025 AfroBasket so far, handing the West Africans their second victory to lead Group A.
Both sides had led by 10 points at one point, but the game came down to the last minute when Betinho Gomes brought the Islanders a point away from their opponent at 80-79 with 59 seconds on the clock.
Solo Diabate missed the chance to draw away from Cape Verde in the next possession. With 17 seconds left, Will Tavares scored, but missed a free throw that could have put Cape Verde up by two. The Ivorians launched an immediate fast break. Assemian Moulare missed his shot, but Dally grabbed the decisive offensive rebound to beat the clock and score the game-winner.
"We know Cape Verde is a good team with talented players and our plan was to work for 40 minutes and attack them at their weakest, which is how we got so many free throws. It was part of the plan.
In the end we did a good job. We had some open shots that would have given us an easier win but that's part of the game," Cote d'Ivoire's head coach Miguel Angel Hiyo Ramos explained.
Despite Ivan Almeida opening the scoring, Cote d'Ivoire took over, racing to a 7-2 lead, with Matt Costello's shot from range making it an 18-10 game. Gomes got one back as the quarter ended 18-13.
Dally continued Cote d'Ivoire's onslaught in the second quarter, hitting a three after a minute of empty possessions. Kenneti Mendes dropped back-to-back baskets to keep the Islanders in the game as they held on for a 22-22, Ivan Almeida setting up elder brother Joel Almeida for a trey that took the match to the halftime break at 40-35.
"Today we showed big character. We brought a fighting spirit and everyone contributed to this win. The collective effort worked against Cape Verde and we are confident of a good outing this year," Dally, who came off the bench to top score with 18 offered.
Two minutes into the second half, Cape Verde assumed the lead at 41-40 as both sides continued to exchange blows. The Islanders were on a roll, dropping three triple pointers to stretch their lead to 58-50. They played for a 30-15 period, their best performance yet, to head to the final stanza leading by 10 (65-55).
In the final quarter, Diabate leveled the score at 67 points with six minutes and 21 seconds to play, Amadou Sidibe stealing the lead from the free throw line as Cape Verde went on to painfully lose a match they had until the last five seconds, by a point.
"A big shout to my teammates we fought again but I is impossible to win against a team that shot 36 free throws. It wasn't the missed free throw in the end that cost us but the rebound that they picked after. All the same, I am proud of the performance tonight," Gomes offered after the game, adding that they would bring the same energy to their final match and hope to make the quarters automatically.
Coach Emanuel Trovoada slammed the refereeing, questioning how Cote d'Ivoire could have gone to the free throw line 36 times (converting 27), 16 more than the Islanders who converted 12.
As the group phase concludes, Cote d'Ivoire will chase an unbeaten run when they face Congo DR while Cape Verde seek redemption against winless Rwanda.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
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