Basketball in Africa

Host team Dodan Warriors grabbed the third spot as the 2006 FIBA Africa Champions Cup ended in Lagos yesterday.
The Warriors took a see-saw game against Inter Club of Congo Brazzaville that saw the two sides exchanging leads until the Warriors finally took the game 75-66.
The Warriors started at a fast pace and led 12-0 before Inter broke its duck and made two points three minutes into the first quarter.
Shooting guard Adamu Ibrahim had a game-high 25 points, while forward Muhammed Umah-Okoro and Mbaram Omori contributed a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds each to the cause.
“We’re satisfied with the bronze medal,” Warriors coach Alex Owoicho told a crowded post-match conference. “This is our debut in Africa and to have come third is a great achievement for us.”
The Warriors missed Alex Anyaebe, who was injured in the semifinal loss to Primiero Agosto of Angola on Saturday. Carlos Almeida rammed his knee into Anyaebe’s neck, which sent him to hospital.
Anyaebe spent the night in intensive care at Surulere Hospital and he could only watch from the bench as his mates tackled Inter Club.
Inter coach Benjamin Bouzangha commended the standard of the competition, saying the two Angolan teams – Primiero Agosto and Petro Atletico – deserved to play the final.
“The refereeing needs to be improved,” Bouzabgha said. “There were so many calls that the referees made and were not right.
“FIBA Africa needs to improve the officiating,” he added.
Nigerian champion Plateau Peaks finished in seventh place after beating Zenith of Cote d’Ivoire 91-54 in a classification match yesterday.
In yesterday’s final Petro beat Primero de Agosto 76-71 to emerge champions of the competition.