Angola have reclaimed their place at the top of African basketball after overpowering Mali 70–43 to win the AfroBasket championship for the first time since 2013.
The 12,700-seater Kilamba Arena in Luanda was packed to capacity as home fans roared their team to victory.
From the opening tip, Angola were in control, never allowing Mali a chance to dictate the pace.
By the third quarter, they had stretched the gap to over 20 points, and the atmosphere turned celebratory as supporters staged a Mexican wave across the stands.
Childe Dudao emerged as Angola’s star performer, finishing with 16 points and drawing chants of “MVP” late in the contest.
Selton Miguel also chipped in with 12 points for the champions. For Mali, Siriman Kanoute and Aliou Diarra provided the main resistance, scoring 14 and 11 points respectively.
The triumph capped a flawless run for Angola, who went unbeaten with a 6–0 record throughout the competition.
For Mali, the final marked their maiden appearance at this stage, but their tally of 43 points was the lowest recorded in an AfroBasket game in the past 30 years.
With this emphatic win, Angola secured their 12th AfroBasket crown, reigniting a legacy that had been on pause for more than a decade.