The Ankoay have secured a crucial first victory against Gabon, putting them in a favorable position in the race for the quarter-finals ahead of their upcoming challenges against Morocco and Mali.
The Malagasy national team made a successful debut at the FIBA U18 Afrobasket in Côte d’Ivoire. In a thrilling match held on Wednesday at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, the U18 Ankoay overcame Gabon (68-65) after trailing by ten points at halftime (19-17, 8-20, 24-11, 17-17). Trailing 27-37 at the break, the Malagasy side staged an impressive comeback thanks to a revitalized defense and improved offensive efficiency. A three-pointer by Abdul Yvan Hanaffi, with only 0.8 seconds left on the clock, sealed a precious victory for Madagascar.
Madagascar started the game well, led by A’Ranty Rasetriarivony, who scored eight points in the first quarter, giving the Ankoay a 19-17 lead. However, the second quarter turned into a nightmare. With numerous turnovers and poor free-throw shooting, the Malagasy team conceded a 8-20 run, allowing Gabon to pull away before the break.
After halftime, the Ankoay returned with a new mindset. More aggressive in defense and efficient in attack, they outscored Gabon 24-11 to regain the lead (51-48). A’Ranty, who was imperial with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a remarkable 12-of-15 from two-point range, carried his team during the comeback.
The statistics confirm the performance of the Malagasy leaders. Thesbon Matazaky Raolompanatena also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Abdul Yvan Hanaffi scored 8 points, including the decisive basket.
The final quarter was full of suspense, with both teams trading blows until the score reached 65-65 with less than thirty seconds remaining. Just as overtime seemed inevitable, Abdul Yvan Hanaffi hit a spectacular three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left to secure the win.
Andry Rakotomanantsoa, former coach of the women’s Ankoay during the 2022 Afrobasket in Madagascar, commented: “It is always good to win a match, especially the first one. A’Ranty had a big double-double, and Thesbon also contributed significantly. The two-point percentage is decent, but the three-point shooting is weak. The free throws complicated the game, and the second quarter was catastrophic. Morocco will be even tougher, and the Ankoay will need to be more cohesive.”
Aimé Randria, former coach of the U18 Ankoay, added: “The Ankoay struggle offensively whenever A’Ranty is heavily marked. Our pivots lost many balls, and the collective play is not yet well-oiled. Against Morocco, an opponent of a different caliber, we must ensure every shot, vary the defensive system, and find more accuracy from three-point range.”
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-06 05:53:58 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/afrobasket-u18-les-ankoay-battent-le.html