The qualification of the Moroccan national basketball team for the AfroCan 2023 final, reserved for local players, is the result of the determination of the players who gave their best in this continental competition, said the national coach Labib El Hamrani.
The Atlas Lions won on Friday in the Angolan capital Luanda, against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a score of 76 to 69.
"The players spared no effort to reach the final, despite being tired after a long season with their clubs," El Hamrani said in a statement to the press.
He added that this qualification was not easy against an opponent as strong as the DRC, recalling that it is the defending champion of the first edition of this tournament which was held in 2019 in Mali.
In addition, the Moroccan coach noted that instructions were given to the players to follow very closely the numbers 15 and 17 of the opposing team, known for their mastery of three-point shots, which made it possible to limit the effectiveness of their attack.
El Hamrani also noted that the technical and medical staff, the physical trainer and the assistant coach did an exceptional job to help the players regain their optimal shape during the match.
In their first match of this continental competition, the Atlas Lions beat Rwanda (59-58), before dominating Cameroon (78-50) in the round of 16 in a one-sided match.
In the final, Morocco will cross swords on Sunday with Côte d'Ivoire which dominated Rwanda (74-71) in the other semi-final.
Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse