Host Angola beat Morocco 62-56 while fellow North African side Egypt needed overtime to get past Congo courtesy a 65-61 win.
The winning teams square off tonight in Luanda with Group C’s top spot up for grabs as Morocco face off against Congo.
Another loss could prove disastrous in either team’s chances of making it beyond the first phase of qualifiers; the top three teams qualify to the second round.
Beating Morocco is a big win for record African Nations Championship (AfroBasket) winners Angola after losing to the North Africans at the last continental games.
It is also a good start for new Coach Will Voigt who got appointment a few weeks ago to resurrect the country’s flagging fortunes.
Egypt can effectively seal its spot in next year’s second round qualifiers with a win over Angola tonight but face an uphill task against the homeside.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
