Ivory Coast Edge Cape Verde in Last-Second Thriller at AfroBasket 2025
Ivory Coast’s men’s basketball team kept their perfect start to AfroBasket 2025 alive with a dramatic 82-81 victory over Cape Verde on Friday, August 15, in Luanda, Angola.
The Elephants set the tone early, dictating play with sharp execution to claim the first quarter 18-13 and maintaining a slim 40-35 lead at halftime. Their discipline and accuracy from the field looked to be the difference heading into the break.
But the complexion of the game changed in the third quarter. Cape Verde, fueled by I. Almeida’s scoring spark and the imposing presence of W. Tavares in the paint, stormed back to seize momentum, outscoring Ivory Coast and building a 65-55 advantage going into the final period.
The closing minutes delivered pure drama. With seconds left on the clock, Cape Verde led 81-80 and seemed destined to clinch the win. Yet, in a moment of brilliance, J. Dally struck the decisive basket, flipping the scoreline and igniting wild celebrations among the Ivorian faithful.
The victory, Ivory Coast’s second straight in Group A, cements their status as early frontrunners. Head coach Dejan Prokić’s side will now turn their focus to a high-stakes clash with DR Congo on Sunday, August 17, at 18:00 GMT, as they continue their march toward the knockout stages.