Angola is back on the biggest stage. In front of a packed and electrifying Arena do Kilamba, the Palancas Negras edged Cameroon 74–73 to qualify for their first AfroBasket Final in a decade. Tonight, they will face Mali for the continental crown.
The semifinal, however, didn’t end without controversy. Once again. A foul called in the dying seconds sent Angola to the free-throw line. Aboubacar Gakou made just one of his three attempts, enough to seal the narrowest of victories. The decision immediately sparked debate, with many fans and observers questioning the call.
A tense battle from start to finish
For much of the game, Cameroon looked in control. They led nearly from start to finish, powered by the inside presence of Yves Missi, who set a new AfroBasket record with seven blocked shots. The Indomitable Lions appeared destined to reach the final.
But Angola had other plans.
Silvio De Sousa: “Honored to represent Angola”
Speaking to ViaggioSport after the final buzzer, Angolan forward Silvio De Sousa reflected on the dramatic win:
“First of all, respect to Cameroon. They are a very good team and they never gave up. But my teammates were incredible, especially in those last two minutes. That changed everything. I’m so happy and proud of this team.”
He went on to stress what the moment means to him personally:
“We all made sacrifices to be here: The players, the coaches, the staff. We wanted to do this for our people and our families. I thank God that we stayed healthy. Representing Angola means everything to me. My family is here, my roots are here and it’s an honor to wear this jersey.”
With this hard-fought victory, Angola will now chase its first AfroBasket title since 2013 when they meet Mali in today’s final. Cameroon, devastated by the loss, will face Senegal in the third-place game.
