Ten years after their last appearance at this level, Angola is back in the AfroBasket final. In front of their home crowd in Luanda, the Angolan national team snatched a narrow victory over Cameroon (74–73), after a heated match... but not without controversy surrounding the refereeing.

The Palancas Negras will challenge Mali today in an attempt to regain a continental title they have not won since 2013.

Silvio De Sousa, the voice of pride

Speaking to Seneweb , Silvio De Sousa (pivot/forward) shared his emotions after this success.

“I have to give a shout-out to Cameroon, really. They were a very good team, they never gave up. But in the end, my teammates were incredible. Especially in the last two minutes, it changed everything. I'm so happy and proud of my team.”

The Angolan center emphasizes the sacrifices made to reach the last step: "We all made sacrifices to be here, players, coaches, staff. We wanted to do it for our people and our families."

 

Silvio spoke of his attachment to his country. “Everything I have comes from Angola. My family is here. Playing for the national team is huge. I’m proud to be Angolan.”

The match scenario

Cameroon dominated and seemed headed for the final. But the Angolans, spurred on by their home crowd, found the resources to turn things around.

For Cameroon, Yves Missi stood out with 7 blocks, a new AfroBasket record. But Cameroon's five turnovers in the final quarter proved costly.

In the dying seconds, a foul called against Cameroon gave Gakou three free throws. He converted one, snatching victory for Angola and sparking the anger of the Cameroonian fans.

Next meeting

With this fifth consecutive victory, Angola has returned to the forefront of the continental stage. The Palancas Negras will face Mali in the final on Sunday, while Cameroon will face Senegal for the bronze medal.