The Atlas Lions won on Friday in the Angolan capital Luanda against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a score of 76 to 69.
“The players spared no effort to reach the final, despite their fatigue following a long season with their clubs,” Mr. El Hamrani stressed in a statement to the press.
He added that this qualification was not easy against an opponent as strong as the DRC, recalling that it is the reigning champion of the first edition of this tournament which was held in 2019 in Mali.
Furthermore, the Moroccan coach noted that instructions were given to the players to closely follow the numbers 15 and 17 of the opposing team, known for their mastery of three-point shots, which helped limit the effectiveness of their attack.
Mr. El Hamrani also noted that the technical and medical staff, the physical trainer and the assistant coach did an exceptional job to help the players regain their optimal form during the match.
In their first match of this continental competition, the Atlas Lions beat Rwanda (59-58), before dominating Cameroon (78-50) in the round of 16 in a one-sided match.
In the final, Morocco will cross swords on Sunday with Ivory Coast, which dominated Rwanda (74-71) in the other semi-final.
2024-08-14 16:19:07