Basketball in Africa

The real battle of the 15th edition of the African U-18 men championship will be staged at the sports hall of the Durban Institute of Technology, South Africa on Saturday as the semi final matches begin.

Defending champion, Nigeria having qualified Tuesday when it won all its group-B matches await Wednesday games to know who it is confronting in the second semi final, but after a pulsating and energy sapping encounter between Mali eventual group-A leader and Congo DRC Nigeria will now take on the Central African country in what promises to be a thrilling match.

In the other semi final Mali will have it hand full against enterprising Angola who posted a massive 72-49 points victory over Ivory Coast to book a semi final ticket.

The Nigerian camp is trying to devise a means to oust the Congolese whose play depend so much on strength rather than techniques.

The two finalist of this championship automatically qualifies for the 2007 FIBA U-19 World Championship slated for Vancouver, Canada

Results so Far:

Group-A: Group-B:

Congo 71-46 South Africa Nigeria 103-72 Kenya

Congo 20-0 Zambia (walk-over) Angola 86-42 Kenya

Mali 73-34 Mozambique Nigeria 85-51 Guinea

Congo 66-44 Mozambique Ivory Coast 83-53 Kenya

Mali 60-43 South Africa Nigeria 64-48 Angola

Mali 20-0 Zambia (walk-over) Angola 51-47 Guinea

Mozambique 66-60 South Africa Nigeria 92-54 Ivory Coast

South Africa 20-0 Zambia (walk-over) Guinea 84-64 Kenya

Mali 53-50 Congo Angola 72-Ivory Coast 49


Semi-finals pairing:

Mali Vs Angola

Nigeria Vs Congo