2013 AfroBasket: Defending champion Tunisia crashed out of the Championship

Egypt player celebrating after defeating the defending champions-Tunisia

Defending champion of the Africa Cup of Nations – Afrobasket, Tunisia bowed out of the 2013 AfroBasket with a 67 – 77 points loss to five-time champion Egypt. Tunisia, who finished top of group B, failed to find the tempo in the game with the mighty Egyptian side that had good command of the game. Tunisia lost in all four quarters by 15-19, 13-16, 18-20 and 21-22 to crash out of the 2013 AfroBasket.

Ibrahim El-Gammal lead Egypt for glorious victory with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assist and 2 steal, Wael Badr contributed 19 points, 3 assist, 2 rebounds and 2 steal while Heyman Khalifa added 10 points and 7 rebounds to secure their quarter final ticket and to get one step closer of Spain 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

In the other Eight Finals of the day, Cote d’Ivoire thrashed Burkina Faso 100 – 60 to enter the last 8 of the championship. The Ivorian won in all four quarter (19-15, 26-13, 29-15 and 26-17) to land a quarter-final ticket. Center Mohamed Kone scired 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2 block-shots for Cote d’Ivoire.

Angola also secure their place in the last eight beating Mali 82 – 36 while Cape Verde defeated Republic of Congo 67 – 60 to secure its spot in the last eight of the championship.

In the last two Eight Finals matches, Senegal will be playing Rwanda while Nigeria will face Central African Republic.

The 2013 edition of AfroBasket is being held at Cote d’Ivoire’s capital city of Abidjan from 20 to 31 August 2013 with 16 African Nations are fighting for the prestigious title of 2013 FIBA Africa Championship and, most importantly, for the three spots for the Spain 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup scheduled to be held at Spain next year.