After emerging as the surprise winners of the 2023 edition held in Tunisia, Guinea failed to replicate that form in Kigali, finishing their group matches winless and thus out of podium contention
Last Updated on
September 11, 2025
Outgoing champions Guinea finally claimed their first win of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket in their classification game, beating Sierra Leone 66-36 in the 9th to 10th place clash. Mohamed Lamine Diaby led the charge for Guinea, who had finished last in Group B, dropping a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds.
He was one of two players to hit double digits on points, Misbao Léon Diawara scoring 12 in the victory. Ishmael Sesay was Sierra Leone's sole player to hit double digits, scoring 10 and completing his double-double with 12 rebounds.
The Guinean's superiority in speed and ball handling was evident as they capitalised on fast break, going 23-9 ahead in the victory. Their bench also contributed double the points (16) that Sierra Leone managed.
Alpha Ousmane Traoré got action for Guinea, feeding off Sierra Leone's first turnover for a basket inside, off a fastbreak, to see his side lead 6-2 early. Nicholas Finney scored four to level the score before early Sesay grabbed the lead momentarily at 8-6.
Diawara shot from range to reclaim the lead for the Guineans at 11-8, Sylla Djibril ensuring the side went to the second quarter leading 13-10.
Sierra Leone had a hard time going past Guinea's defense, and they managed just two baskets in the opening half of the second quarter to trail 20-14. Aboubacar Kourouma scored four, adding to Massa Pierre Toure's back-to-back threes that saw Guinea lead 32-21 at halftime.
It was a slow restart with the leaders going more than three minutes without a basket, scoring 8-1 from the free-throw line. Diawara's pull-up shot with 6:20 to play triggered a 6-0 run, Mohamed Lamine Diaby scoring four for 46-22.
Alie Kargbo's trey and a Sesay layup down the stretch did little to help their situation as they went on to lose the quarter 22-8 and carry a 25-point advantage to the final stanza. Sesay added four points to his final tally in a 12-7 final quarter that sealed the defeat for the Sierra Leone side.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
