LUANDA (Angola) – Cameroon had grappled and grinded to overcome the Democratic Republic of Congo in a 2025 AfroBasket elimination game at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda on Tuesday night. The 77-68 victory sets Cameroon up for a quarter-final battle with Egypt.
A game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds from Yves Missi, Williams Narace’s 18 points and Samir Gbetkom’s 16 points pushed Cameroon to victory.
16-year-old Miverdi Miteo and Jonathan Jordan, the only Congolese to score in double figures, finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Cameroon made it to the playoffs after finishing second in Group B, while DR Congo changed spots, looking like a shadow of the team which had impressively qualified for the tournament with a 5-1 record. The Congolese limped into the playoffs with a 1-2 record from Group A.
TURNING POINT: Missi’s six points, which included a baseline three-pointer and a single free throw, were part of a 13-0 run for Cameroon. In between Missi’s scoring, Tamenang Choh scored points, while Cameroon captain Fabien Ateba sank a three-pointer.
HERO: Without key players Jordan Bayehe and Jeremiah Hill, both nursing injuries, the Cameroon team showed they have bite. Players like Choh, who scored seven points, and Brice Eyaga (2/2 from three-point range) and Ateba made sure Cameroon stayed alive in the tournament.
STATS DON’T LIE: Points in the paint (40) and nine second-chance points led to Cameroon’s success on the cold Tuesday night.
BOTTOM LINE: Cameroon could have thrown in the towel, being down two players. But giving up would not be a true reflection of the Indomitable Lions. Courage and execution were the hallmarks of the Cameroon team.
The DR Congo tried to fight back at the end of Cameroon’s run, Jonathan Jordan’s free throws, Miteo’s five points, and Djack Kabuya’s three-pointer cut Cameroon’s lead to 11 points (60-49). In the fourth, the Congolese stepped up their efforts, but it was too little too late.
WHAT THEY SAID: “We switched off defensively and offensively at certain points in the game. Congratulations to Cameroon, we didn’t expect the kind of pressure that they put on us under.” – DR Congo coach Michel Perrin.
“Tonight we came with different mindset. We gave everything on the court. We played hard regardless of our mistakes. We left it all on the court.” – Cameroon center Yves Missi.
FIBA