Angola stormed back to the pinnacle of African basketball on Sunday night as they defeated Mali 70–43 to clinch the AfroBasket title for the first time since 2013.
Inside a fully packed 12,700-capacity Kilamba Arena in Luanda, Angolan and Malian fans created a carnival atmosphere as they witnessed history.
The hosts wasted no time in stamping their authority, leading from start to finish in what, though not their most dazzling display of the tournament, was a dominant championship performance.
By the third quarter, Angola had stretched their lead to over 20 points, sparking jubilant celebrations and a synchronized Mexican wave from the home crowd.
For Mali, making their first-ever appearance in an AfroBasket final, the deficit proved too steep to overcome.
Childe Dudao led the new champions with 16 points, earning loud MVP chants from the stands, while Selton Miguel added 12 points in support.
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On Mali’s side, Siriman Kanoute and Aliou Diarra managed 14 and 11 points respectively, but their efforts were not enough to halt Angola’s momentum.
The triumph capped off a flawless 6-0 campaign for Angola, reasserting their dominance in African basketball after years of near misses.
For Mali, their 43 points marked an unwanted record as the lowest total in an AfroBasket final in the last three decades.
The victory sends Angola back to the summit of African basketball, restoring their legacy as one of the continent’s most decorated teams.