They defeated Chad 75-64 in the fifth-place playoff having recovered from a two-point deficit at the halfway point.

Surging into a nine-point lead in the third quarter laid the foundations for Mali’s victory at Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga in the country’s capital, Bamako.

Ibrahim Djambo impressed for the victors with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three steals.

In the seventh-place playoff, Tunisia edged out Algeria 68-67 in a thriller.

Algeria had battled back from 28-13 down at the end of the first quarter to trail by six at the halfway stage.

And although they cut the deficit again in final quarter, Tunisia clung on.

Tomorrow, Morocco and Angola meet in the third-place playoff before Kenya and Democratic Republic of the Congo contest the final.