Feature: Host Angola's rollercoaster win over Cape Verde electrifies AfroBasket crowd

by sportswriters Wang Qi, Liu Jie and Wang Guansen

LUANDA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- How can basketball ignite a frenzy in a Southern African nation of approximately 37 million population?

One quarterfinal clash at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket said it all, as host Angola delivered a sensational 90-80 victory over Cape Verde, the fourth-place finisher in the previous edition, to grab the last semifinal spot.

As a traditional basketball powerhouse in Africa, Angola's Black Antelopes have won the continental championship 11 times. However, since their defeat to Nigeria in the 2015 final, they have struggled to reach the podium in the last two consecutive editions.

With AfroBasket coming to Angola for the fourth time, the home-court advantage and hunger to reclaim the throne have once again hyped up local fans' inner fire for the sport, especially given that the Black Antelopes have never lost the championship on home soil during their previous three hosting stints.

Since the 2025 AfroBasket kicked off on August 12, the 11-time champion Angola has remained unbeaten, registering wins over Libya, Guinea, and top-ranked South Sudan.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde, runner-up in Group A, stunned reigning champion Tunisia 87-54, setting the stage for a high-stakes quarterfinal against Angola.

One hour before Thursday's match, large crowds of fans wearing red and black arrived early -- some by car, while others packed into "Candongueiros" or blue-and-white private minibuses -- causing traffic congestion around the 12,700-seat Multiuse Pavilion of Kilamba.

Inside the stadium, many enthusiasts had already settled into their seats, waving flags, chanting, and beating drums to cheer on their teams. As the national anthems played, the entire crowd rose in unison, their voices reverberating throughout the arena.

Buoyed by the thunderous support of the home crowd, Angola came out strong on both ends of the floor, dominating especially in the paint. Cape Verde got off to a slow start, leaning on perimeter shots and fast breaks to find its rhythm before finishing the first quarter at 15-24 down.

As the second quarter got underway, Angola rattled off six straight points to stretch its lead to 15. But the Southern African giant suddenly went cold, allowing Cape Verde to respond with a 9-0 run that quickly closed the gap.

A timeout call from Angola's head coach Jose Claros allowed his team to regroup, after which Jilson Bango's dominance in the paint highlighted the response, reigniting Angola's momentum on the court.

As the crowd rose roaring for Bango's second dunk, however, the towering 2.08-meter center collapsed with an injury and was carried off the court by the medical team. Angola's interior offense visibly faltered, while Cape Verde used a balanced attack to narrow the deficit to just five points by halftime.

"His absence had a big impact," Angola's captain Gerson Goncalves told Xinhua. "We decided to play for him and for the entire team, because we wanted to dedicate this victory to him. He has always given everything for us, and today we wanted to give everything for him."

Just two and a half minutes into the third quarter, the Almeida brothers combined forces to lead Cape Verde in taking the lead for the first time at 49-48 over the host.

The score was tied five times, with the lead changing hands repeatedly. In the nick of time, Abou Gakou sank a crucial three-pointer, tipping the scale in Angola's favor to enter the final quarter with a 65-63 advantage.

Despite a 6-0 scoring run to spark another comeback in the last quarter, Cape Verde team soon found itself locked in a tug-of-war, with its form disrupted by too many personal fouls.

When Childe Dundao and Selton Miguel each fired a three-pointer, the home crowd lit up the stands with their phone lights, waving them in celebration as Angola finally pulled ahead at 82-79. They were already on their feet, and every time the home team made a free throw, a unified chant erupted from the stands: "Pisar!" ("Crush them!")

Kevin Kokila's three free throws sealed the win for Angola, following which top scorer Dundao was lifted high and carried around the court to bask in the ovation. The 1.67-meter point guard led all sharpshooters with 30 points, converting 18 of his 23 free-throw attempts.

"We were leading by 15 points, but we failed to manage that advantage. When our performance dropped, Cape Verde started believing they could come back, and that's what made the match so close," said Gakou, power forward of the Black Antelopes.

From Cape Verde's side, 2.21-meter center Edy Tavares told Xinhua that while several factors worked against them on Angola's home soil, the team still "gave everything" and tried its best.

"The referees' calls, the home crowd, and the overall atmosphere ... We had to fight against many things at once. We almost won the match, but some fouls and a few defensive mistakes didn't help us secure the victory," he added.

The match ended, yet the buzz lingered on.

Crowds of fans gathered once again outside the players' exit to congratulate the Angolan team, while long lines formed at the ticket boxes for a berth in the Angola-Cameroon blockbuster. Elated drivers also lowered their windows, smiling as they asked pedestrians, "Esta bom?" ("Good match?")

As for the upcoming semifinal, Dundao underlined Cameroon as "a very strong team," signaling a tough battle ahead in Angola's quest for a 12th title. "We will prepare ourselves well and make sure we respond in the best way possible," he added. ■