Ghana’s basketball team has made history by advancing to the final of the Africa Basketball Festival, a prestigious continental tournament that showcases the best of African talent. The team, coached by Albert Ato Sackey, defeated Liberia 40-35 in a thrilling semi-final match at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on Saturday.
The victory was a remarkable achievement for Ghana, which had to overcome a tough challenge from Togo in the quarter-finals. Ghana trailed 0-8 in the first quarter but staged a stunning comeback to take the lead 20-14 by the end of the period. James Amotoe, the Most Valuable Player of the Greater Accra Basketball League, and his Spintex Knights teammates, including Treasure Botchway, were instrumental in Ghana’s turnaround. Amotoe’s passing and scoring skills set up his teammates for easy baskets, while Botchway’s defensive prowess kept Togo at bay. Ghana eventually won 43-32 to book a place in the last four.
Liberia, on the other hand, had pulled off a surprise of their own by upsetting the heavily favored Nigeria 24-19 in the quarter-finals. Nigeria, which had won the previous edition of the festival in 2022, was expected to cruise to the final, but Liberia’s resilience and determination proved too much for them. Liberia’s star players, Cameron Green and Tim David scored 52 and 54 points respectively in the tournament, leading their team to the semi-final showdown with Ghana.
The semi-final match was a close and exciting affair, with both teams displaying high levels of skill and passion. Ghana took an early lead, but Liberia fought back to level the score at 17-17 by halftime. The second half was a nail-biting contest, with neither team able to pull away. Ghana’s defense, however, proved to be the difference, as they limited Liberia to only 18 points in the half while scoring 23 themselves. Ghana held on to a narrow 40-35 win, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Ghana’s coach, Sackey, praised his players for their performance and thanked the fans for their support. He said that Ghana had proved that they belonged among the elite of African basketball and that they were ready to face any opponent in the final. He also expressed his confidence that Ghana could win the title and make the nation proud.
Ghana will face the winner of the clash between the USA and France, which will take place on Sunday at the same venue. The USA and France are the representatives of the international bracket of the festival, which also features the UK and an additional nation. The final will be the culmination of the three-day event, which also features musical performances, fashion shows, and e-sports competitions.
The Africa Basketball Festival, which started in 2022, is organized by RITE Sports in collaboration with partners Beyond The Return Office and the Ghana Basketball Association. The festival aims to promote basketball as a sport and a culture in Africa and to provide a platform for African talent to showcase their skills and potential. The festival also hopes to inspire young Africans to pursue their dreams and aspirations through basketball.
Source: Graphic Online
