Tunisia overcame Ivory Coast 78-75 at Kigali Arena in the Rwandan capital on Sunday to retain the AfroBasket continental title they won on home soil four years ago.<br /><br />Dirk Bauermann's side started slowly in the final, but soon found their stride and a 12-point run allowed 'The Eagles' to build up a 47-34 lead by half time.<br /><br />The Ivorians fought back in the third quarter and closed to within four points - Tunisia pulled away again to lead by 11 in the fourth, but their opponents never gave up and in a nervy conclusion, the gap was cut to just three before time ran out.<br /><br />Salah Mejri led the winners with a game-high 22 points, backed by 18 from Michael Roll and 10 from Omar Abada.<br /><br />Souleyman Diabate, with 20, top scored for 'The Elephants', who lost for the first time in 17 outings.<br /><br />Their long wait for an AfroBasket title continues - their last was back in 1985.<br /><br />With the victory, Tunisia became the first team to win back-to-back AfroBasket titles since Angola achieved the feat in 2009.
