Angola defeated Mali 70–43 in the final of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket on Sunday in Luanda to reclaim continental glory and extend their dominance as Africa’s most successful basketball nation with a record 12 titles.
Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 12,700 at the Kilamba Arena, the hosts delivered a commanding performance to complete the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, clinching their first AfroBasket crown since 2013.
Mali, featuring in their first-ever AfroBasket final, were restricted to just 43 points — the fewest scored in the competition in the last three decades — and finished the tournament with a 4-3 record.
Turning Point
Mali trailed by only 12 at halftime (32–20) but struggled to cope with Angola’s intensity after the break, the hosts extended their lead beyond 20 points in the third quarter, sparking a Mexican wave in the stands as the title slipped away from the West Africans.
Hero
Point guard Childe Dundao, standing just 5-foot-6, once again proved decisive, he scored 16 points, dished out five assists, and played more than 33 minutes to guide his side to victory.
His all-round display earned him the 2025 AfroBasket Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Selton Miguel added 12 points for the champions.
For Mali, Siriman Kanoute and Aliou Diarra scored 14 and 11 points respectively, but their efforts were undone by turnovers and poor shooting.
Mahamane Coulibaly, usually a reliable scorer, went 1-for-9 from the floor to finish with just two points.
By the Numbers
Angola scored 22 points off Mali’s 24 turnovers, the hosts dominated the boards, outrebounding Mali 54–36. Kanoute committed a tournament-high 10 turnovers, including five in the final.
Bronze Medal Match
Earlier in the day, Senegal defeated Cameroon 98–72 to claim third place — their third straight AfroBasket bronze medal.
Bottom Line
After 12 years without continental silverware, Angola’s wait ended in emphatic fashion, in front of their home fans, the 11-time champions rediscovered their winning pedigree to lift a record-extending 12th AfroBasket title and reaffirm their status as Africa’s basketball powerhouse.