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#SPORT– The Lebanese national team played its final #friendly_match at home against Côte d’Ivoire, at the Nohad Naoufal stadium, in front of around 4,500 spectators.
By Pierre Daccache pic.twitter.com/iJL0GMHxVx
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) August 16, 2023
With one week to go before the start of the Basketball World Cup, the Lebanese national team played its final friendly match at home against Côte d’Ivoire, at the Nohad Naoufal stadium, in front of around 4,500 spectators.
Ranked 43rd in the world, Lebanon lost to a strong Ivorian national team ranked 42nd, with a score of 67-77.
Under the guidance of coach Jad al-Hajj, the Cedars team started strongly in the first half. However, it was the second half that saw the Ivorian team take the lead over Lebanon.
Lebanese player Jad Khalil told Ici Beyrouth in an interview after the match that “this match allowed the team to really gauge their level of preparation with a week of intensive training in Abu Dhabi ahead of us, including two crucial preparation matches for the World Cup.”
For his part, Omari Spellman, a former NBA player with the Golden State Warriors (GSW), made his debut for the Lebanese team during the game, scoring 8 points in the match. Sergio Darwish and Ali Haidar also contributed to the score with 11 points each.
Unsurprisingly, Wael Arakji, recognized as Asia’s best player, achieved the highest score between the two teams, with 20 points under his name.
Despite the defeat, the Lebanese team continues to inspire the Lebanese people.
The fans, who were very present and influential on the pitch, created an atmosphere that undoubtedly boosted the morale of the Cedars team. This unity between the team and its supporters promises a positive dynamic for the challenges ahead.
The Lebanese national team is preparing to leave Lebanon to play its final two games in Abu Dhabi against Egypt and Mexico, the last stop before the World Cup, where Lebanon will face three powerful basketball teams: France, Latvia and Canada.
