FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers: Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire stunned, total suspense in Africa

Group E: Guinea overwhelms Cameroon, Nigeria bounces back

At the Salle Multidisciplinaire in Radès, logic was thrown out the window. Unbeaten until then and solid leaders, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon saw their unbeaten streak brutally ended by an impressive Guinea team (90-67). Driven by phenomenal three-point shooting (40% from 3-pt, beating a continental record in the competition), the Guineans suffocated Cameroon from start to finish to claim a prestigious victory.

For their part, Nigeria pulled off a spectacular comeback. With their backs against the wall after a tough start to the window, the D'Tigers crushed Cape Verde (100-84) thanks to a masterful performance from Caleb Agada. This prolific success puts the Nigerian squad back in the hunt for qualification.

Despite their misstep, Cameroon and South Sudan retain a slight advantage in the standings, but Guinea and Nigeria refuse to give up. The battle for the two direct qualifying spots (and the best third-place finish) promises to be fierce.

Group F: Angola teaches Côte d'Ivoire a lesson, DRC shows grit

At Dakar Arena, the final day lived up to all its promises in terms of spectacle and intensity. The biggest surprise came from Côte d’Ivoire’s clear and emphatic defeat against Angola (91-70). The Angolans delivered a reference match, handing the Elephants their heaviest defeat on the continental stage in nearly a decade.

Another hard-fought clash: the Democratic Republic of Congo brought down Egypt (77-75) after a breathtaking finish. Jonathan Kasibabu and the Leopards showed unwavering determination to snatch this crucial win.

“Even when a teammate lost the ball, we kept supporting each other. It was all about pride, we couldn’t leave Dakar without a win,” reacted the Congolese big man to FIBA’s microphone after the game.

For their part, Senegal, carried by their home crowd, imposed their authority over Mali (91-77), confirming their rising momentum. This group F is the group of all dangers. A single point separates first place from the fourth. Mathematically, no team has yet punched their ticket and no one is safe.

All eyes are now on the fifth and final qualifying window, scheduled for February 2027. The 12 remaining teams are throwing their last energies into the battle to grab one of the five qualifying spots for the FIBA World Cup 2027 in Qatar.

Group E standings

1. Cameroon - 16 points

2. South Sudan - 16 points

3. Guinea - 15 points

4. Tunisia - 14 points

5. Nigeria - 14 points

6. Cape Verde - 12 points

Group F standings

1. Senegal - 16 points

2. Côte d'Ivoire - 16 points

3. Angola - 15 points

4. Mali - 15 points

5. Egypt - 13 points

6. DR Congo - 12 points