DR Congo won all five of their matches in winning the inaugural event in 2019 and in a tournament postponed from 2021 because of COVID-19 complications, they had arrived in the last four with three more straight wins.

But Morocco - fourth in 2019 - served early notice of their ability to end that perfect record as they won the first quarter 22-17 and the second 21-14.

The holders stabilised in the third quarter, which ended 14-14, and rallied to take the last 24-19 - but it wasn’t enough to prevent their exit.

Evariste Shonganya shone again for DR Congo, finishing with 21 points, but Morocco it was - with Jihad Benchlikha top-scoring from them on 15 - who advanced.

Debutants Rwanda, who had to win a qualifying match to make the last eight after losing their group matches to Tunisia and Morocco, gave Ivory Coast a fright in the second semi-final, reaching the final quarter 55-49 ahead but losing the final segment 16-25 and the match by 71-74.

A total of 24 points from Dieudonne Ndayisaba Ndizeye was in vain as the Ivory Coast, for whom Lionel Kouadio top-scored with 19, prevailed for a gold-medal meeting with Morocco.