Badio, Ndoye prove too much for Rwanda in opener of Group C

…First quarter brilliance powers Cameroon over Gabon

By Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by FIBA 

Brancou Badio and Youssou Ndoye propelled Senegal to an 81-58 victory over Rwanda in the first game of Group C game of the FIBA 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers at the Dakar Arena.

Badio was exceptional offensively, leading hosts Senegal with a team-high of 14 points, 7 rebounds while dishing out 7 assistants. Ndoye, meanwhile, played the destroyer role, shooting 4-for-6, mostly thunderous dunks to finish with 14 points.

Amar Sylla made his presence felt with a 2-for-2 shooting from behind the arc in the first half before sinking one more triple to finish with 11 points.

Rwanda held on in the first and second quarters, causing all sorts of disruptions to Senegal's defense, especially William Robeyns who was 4-for-4 from behind the arc to lead all players in scoring with 12 points at the end of the first half.

But Senegal head coach DeSagana Diop came up with a plan in the second half, forcing Robeyns to go 0-2 from behind the three-point line. Even so, Robeyns signed out with a team-high 12 points.

The first quarter was a true testament to the differences in rankings. Cameroon ranked 64th and  Gabon seating in the 135 spot in the world.

Between the two Central African rivals, but the tide quickly changed, their opening brilliance ensuring a comfortable win for the former.

Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba shot back-to-back treys in the opening two minutes, giving Cameroon a 10-0 commanding lead that gave a glimpse of the rest of the encounter. Omar Siby made it 12-04 from the paint but his side still trailed 17-04 five minutes in as Samir Gbetkom knocked down the Indomitable Lions' third trey.

Lerry Rostand Essono Mvé made it a 10-point game at 17-07 from beyond the arc, Warene Moundounga-Moumbeki taking it further to 17-09 but Cameroon's annihilation continued as they dominated the quarter 28-12.

Gabon played a better second quarter, restricting Alfred Roland Aboya's charges to 22 while scoring 18, 14 made in the last five minutes of the second period, to head to the halftime break trailing 50-30. The 20-point advantage proved crucial for Cameroon in a closer-fought second half.

Shooting 7-of-19 from behind the arc in the opening half gave coach Aboya's charges the momentum and a comfortable lead that ensured they remained grounded even as Jarode Meyet Aworet and Hermann Junior Boukosso Igouwe orchestrated a Gabonese comeback attempt in a 20-14 third quarter performance. A 12-08 final quarter sealed the victory for Cameroon.

TODAY'S GAMES:
Group A

Mali vs South Sudan
Morocco vs DR Congo

Group C

Gabon vs Senegal
Rwanda vs Cameroon