FIBA AfroBasket 2021 explained

Tourney Name:	AfroBasket 2021
City:	Kigali
Country:	Rwanda
Dates:	24 August – 5 September
Num Teams:	16
Confederations:	1
Venues:	1
Cities:	1
Champion:	TUN
Count:	3
Second:	CIV
Third:	SEN
Fourth:	CPV
Games:	35
Attendance:	48748
Mvp:	Makrem Ben Romdhane
Top Scorer:	Gorgui Dieng (20.0 points per game)
Prevseason:	2017
Nextseason:	2025

FIBA AfroBasket 2021 was the 30th edition of the FIBA AfroBasket, a men's basketball continental championship of Africa.^[1] The tournament was hosted by Rwanda for the first time.^[2] It was originally scheduled to take place between 17 and 29 August 2021, but it was moved back a week due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to 24 August to 5 September 2021.^[3]

The tournament featured 16 teams, with South Sudan debuting at the AfroBasket stage. Tunisia was the defending champion, having won the 2017 tournament and they defended their title with a final win over Ivory Coast, while Senegal won the bronze medal.^[4]

Host selection

In June 2019, FIBA Africa announced that Rwanda hosts the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket outbesting the bids of Senegal, Ivory Coast, and DR Congo.^[2]

Venue

The entire tournament was hosted at the Kigali Arena, which was opened in August 2019. It is also the biggest indoor arena in East Africa.

Qualification

See main article: AfroBasket 2021 qualification.

The qualification started in 2020, with nine teams participating in the pre-qualifiers, including the four eliminated teams from the 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers. The hosts Rwanda qualified directly to the AfroBasket 2021.

Qualified teams

Team	Qualification method	Date of qualification			Best placement in tournament
	Host nation	23 June 2019	6th		Ninth place (2009)
	Group D top three	17 February 2021	19th		Champions (2015)
		18 February 2021	1st	Debut
			20th		Third place (1972)
	Group B top three	19 February 2021	29th		Champions (1968, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1997)
	Group C top three		24th		Champions (1981, 1985)
	Group A top three		23rd		Champions (2011, 2017)
	Group B top three		21st		Champions (1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013)
	Group E top three	20 February 2021	24th		Champions (1962, 1964, 1970, 1975, 1983)
	Group C top three		10th		Runners-up (2007)
	Group A top three		20th		Champions (1974, 1987)
			7th		Fourth place (1975)
	Group B top three		4th		Fourth place (1993)
	Group C top three	2 March 2021	6th		Fourth place (1962)
	Group E top three	8 July 2021	7th		Third place (2007)
			3rd		13th place (2017)

Draw

The draw was held on 28 May 2021.^[5]

Squads

See main article: AfroBasket 2021 squads.

Each team consisted of 12 players.

Preliminary round

The schedule was released on 8 June 2021.^[6]

All times are local (UTC+2).

Group A

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Group B

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Group C

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Group D

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Knockout stage

Qualification to quarterfinals

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Quarterfinals

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Semifinals

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Final

Final standings

Rank	Team	Record	FIBA World Ranking
			Before	After	Change
		6–0	34	30	4
		5–1	50	46	4
		5–1	35	36	-1
4		3–3	95	100	-5
5		2–3	33	33	0
6		2–3	98	90	8
7		3–2	97	94	3
8		2–3	122	118	4
9		1–3	112	111	1
10		2–2	91	95	-4
11		1–3	60	62	-2
12		2–2	22	23	-1
13		1–2	81	81	0
14		1–2	78	76	2
15		0–3	77	75	2
16		0–3	65	63	2

Source:^[7]

Statistics and awards

Statistical leaders

Players

Points^[8]

Name	PPG
	20.0
	17.5
	align=center rowspan=2	16.8
Edy Tavares
	16.3

Rebounds

Name	RPG
	14.2
	10.5
	9.6
	9.4
	9.3

Assists

Name	APG
	7.4
	6.7
	6.6
	6.4
	6.0

Blocks

Name	BPG
	4.0
	align=center rowspan=2	3.0
Kevarrius Hayes
	2.4
	2.3

Steals

Name	SPG
	4.8
	3.0
	2.8
	2.7
	2.6

Efficiency

Name	EFFPG
	31.0
	25.0
	24.7
	20.8
	18.8

Teams

Points

Team	PPG^[9]
	87.5
	83.8
	79.0
	75.4
	74.4

Rebounds

Team	RPG
	52.3
	49.2
	48.7
	48.6
	43.8

Assists

Team	APG
	22.5
	21.5
	21.4
	21.2
	20.3

Blocks

Team	BPG
	6.0
	5.4
	5.3
	4.5
	align=center rowspan=2	4.4

Steals

Team	SPG
	align=center rowspan=2	13.3
	11.8
	align=center rowspan=2	11.0

Efficiency

Team	EFFPG
	107.0
	99.7
	94.8
	86.8
	82.3

Awards

The awards were announced on 5 September 2021.^[10]

All-Star team
Guards	Forwards	Center
Omar Abada	Matt Costello	Edy Tavares Gorgui Dieng Makrem Ben Romdhane
MVP Makram Ben Romdhane

See also

• 2021 Women's Afrobasket

External links

• Official website
• Tournament summary

Notes and References

1. Web site: Overview . FIBA.basketball . 4 September 2021 . en.
2. News: Sikubwabo . Damas . Rwanda Wins Afrobasket 2021 Bid, Beating 3 Others . 24 June 2019 . All Africa . 24 June 2019.
3. Web site: FIBA's Executive Committee confirms global calendar update. 9 April 2020. FIBA.
4. Web site: Mejri and Roll spark Tunisia to FIBA AfroBasket 2021 title. 5 September 2021. FIBA.
5. Web site: Draw results in for 2021 FIBA AfroBasket. 28 May 2021. FIBA.
6. Web site: Schedule confirmed for 2021 FIBA AfroBasket. 8 June 2021. FIBA.
7. Web site: Final standings . FIBA . 8 September 2021.
8. Web site: Player statistical leaders. FIBA. 5 September 2021.
9. Web site: Teams statistical leaders. FIBA. 5 September 2021.
10. Web site: MVP Ben Romdhane headlines FIBA AfroBasket 2021 All-Star team. FIBA. 5 September 2021. 5 September 2021.