Cameroon's national basketball team delivered a commanding 86‑76 win against Libya on home soil, a result that clinched a spot for Cape Verde in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers.
The victory came just hours after Cape Verde had suffered an 83‑63 defeat to South Sudan, a loss that left the archipelago nation needing a win from Cameroon to keep their qualification hopes alive.
A Tactical Masterclass in Douala
From the opening quarter, Cameroon imposed a relentless defensive scheme, limiting Libya to low‑percentage shots and forcing 20 turnovers. Their rebounding edge, 38‑34, gave them second‑chance opportunities that proved decisive.
Fabien Ateba was the offensive catalyst, pouring in 29 points, including seven three‑pointers, while teammate Tamenang Choh added 15 points and eight assists, orchestrating the flow of the game.
Libya's scoring effort was led by Naseim Badrush with 19 points, followed by Mohamed Buzgaiya and Mohamed Sadi, who contributed 15 and 14 points respectively, but the coordinated Cameroonian pressure left them scrambling in the final minutes.
Cameroon's head coach, Emmanuel Trovoada, acknowledged the importance of the win, stating that the team will now shift focus to their next encounter with Libya, aiming to maintain momentum heading into the final Group A fixtures.
With the qualification math now settled, the upcoming matches — Cape Verde versus Libya and Cameroon versus South Sudan — will determine the final standings, but the immediate narrative belongs to Cameroon's disciplined execution and depth of talent.