France found themselves trailing until the final six minutes of the game, but their resilience shone through as they clinched an 85-79 victory against a high-spirited Lebanon team.
Taking center stage, Wael Arakji propelled Lebanon’s efforts with an impressive 29-point performance, emerging as the driving force behind his team.
Throughout the contest, Lebanon surged ahead by as much as 10 points, drawing on the hopes of repeating their 2006 World Cup victory against the same opponents.
Guerschon Yabusele faced challenges with foul trouble, sidelining him for a substantial part of the fourth quarter. However, whenever he graced the court, he proved to be an insurmountable challenge for Lebanon.
Displaying his prowess, the power forward secured 18 points, and recorded 3 blocks and 3 steals, all while shooting an impressive 7-of-9 from the field.
Lebanon leaned heavily on Arakji’s offensive prowess, as he notched 29 points and showcased his playmaking skills with 4 assists.
His proficiency in the paint was evident, converting an impressive 10-of-13 shots from 2-point range, consistently pressuring the opponent’s interior defense.
Watch the game highlights between Lebanon and France in the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
