Twelve years after their last continental crown, Angola are once again African champions. In Luanda, the Palancas Negras defeated Mali 70–43 in the AfroBasket final to clinch their 12th title.
Dundão: “Always believe”
Point guard Childe Dundão was recognized as the tournament’s MVP after leading Angola with 16 points and 5 assists in the final. His shooting was far from efficient (just 8%), but he spent more than 33 minutes on court, setting the tempo and organizing the team.
“It’s indescribable. We fought for this, I’m very happy. To be MVP and help the team win… I have no words,” Dundão said.
Standing only 1.67m, the Petro de Luanda guard has often been told he was too small to succeed at this level. His response came with results and a nice career: “To the kids I say: always believe. Don’t let anyone put you down. With work, anything is possible.”
Coach Canals: “They played for the team”
Head coach José Claros Canals acknowledged the challenges of the tournament and the inexperience of his roster: “It was tough from the start, but my players gave everything. They are young, inexperienced, but they played for the team, not for themselves. I am proud of this group and of the Angolan people who supported us.”
On Dundão, he added: “Childe was the best player in this tournament. Nobody his size could play at this level. He’s an example for an Africa that dreams: if you persevere, you can be the best.”
A title under debate
Angola finished the competition unbeaten, but their path was not without controversy. Several games — for instance against Cape Verde and Cameroon— sparked heated debates over refereeing decisions, casting a shadow on the tournament. The final itself, although one-sided one the scoreboard, was far from a spectacle: there rhythm was broken and the quality of play disappointed many observers.
The broader picture leaves this AfroBasket title far from undisputed.
