U16 AfroBasket Men: Angola Crush Rwanda 79-55, Seal Seventh Classification Spot

Angola Crush Rwanda 79-55, Seal Seventh Classification Spot

Angola, the 2013 champions who finished fourth in 2023, ended their 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket campaign on a high, silencing hosts Rwanda, 79-55, in the seventh-place playoff game. Relegated to the classification matches by finalists Egypt, Angola came into the clash baying for blood, but the Rwandese, with the backing of the fans, were not easily shaken.

The Southern Africans recovered from a slow start to drop a 47-point second half for the convincing victory, a repeat of their 2019 performance. Miguel Salabiaku led the onslaught with 14 points, equalling Vanilson Domingos' tally, and added 17 rebounds for the only double-double for the side. Joseandro Andre scored 13, coming two steals shy of a rare double-double. He added six assists and five rebounds for one of the standout performances for the side.

Edilson Pedro's 11 points and seven rebounds in just over 23 minutes added to the side's depth. Domingos got action underway with a jump shot in the opening minute, Hugo Victor Ngabonziza grabbed the lead for Rwanda from range as a see-saw ensued. The East Africans led 13-9 with 3:28 to play, but the Angolans rallied to see Andre's buzzer-beating three, giving them an 18-17 lead.

It was a non-productive opening five minutes of the second quarter, with Angola's Fernando Joao the only one on the scoreboard with four points.
Domingos Chaves' layup made it 25-17, but Ngabonziza went on a six-point run to bring Rwanda to within two points (25-23). Quintus Grier Sugarman's three-pointer for 27-26 forced Angola into a timeout that proved a game-changer as they went on to lead 32-27 heading to the halftime break.

Edilson Pedro got the second half action going, dropping five quick points to take Angola's advantage to ten (37-27), a difference that remained at 42-32. Another eight-point run for Angola extended their advantage to 50-34, and despite Divin Cyusa scoring twice from deep and Sugarman adding four from the free throw line for the hosts,  Angola took the quarter 26-17 to lead by 14 heading to the final stanza.

Angola scored 19 in the opening seven minutes, while restricting Rwanda to four, for 77-48. Sugarman capitalized on Alfredo Micaba's turnover to score a three, Ngabonziza and Manzi Enzo Kabenga adding a basket each for Rwanda, who went on to lose by 24.

The battle was won on the paint as Angola dominated 50-12. They also took advantage of Rwanda's 32 turnovers to score 25. They conceded 13 points from their 15 turnovers.

Angola dropped to seventh from fourth in 2023, a testament to the competitiveness of the tournament. Rwanda, who finished fifth in their last two appearances (2019, 2023), this time finished eighth.

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[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]