FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament : Cameroon Crumbles At Semis

The basketball Lions of Cameroon have been knocked out of race for qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. They were beaten 72-59 by the host country, Latvia, during the semi-finals that took place in Riga on Saturday July 6, 2024. It was a rather difficult game as the Lions had to deal with Latvia ranked sixth in the world on FIBA Ranking. The Lions began well and got a one point victory in the second quarter. They however lost their steam as they tied in the third quarter and collapsed in the fourth, causing their downfall. 
One of the key factors that contributed to Cameroon’s downfall was Latvia’s effective man-to-man marking on Jeremiah Hill, which put the Lions at a disadvantaged position. Furthermore, Latvia’s dominance at the free-throw line proved to be a significant factor, as they capitalised on their opportunities to build a comfortable lead. On the other hand, Cameroon managed to convert only a handful of their attempts. Despite their best efforts, Cameroon’s shooting woes continued throughout the game, with Hill and his teammates unable to find their footing. As a result, they were unable to mount a comeback and ultimately succumbed to the Latvian pressure. With this loss, Cameroon will miss out on the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games, and will not participate in any team sports at the Olympics. Following the loss, Cameroon will miss out on the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games, and will not participate in any team sports at the Olympics. The defeat marks the end of the campaign for the Lions, who had hoped to make a deep r...