Having secured gold at the inaugural event four years ago with five straight wins, DR Congo maintained their perfect record with two victories in group matches in Angola, which is hosting the event at the Arena Kilamba.

But they came perilously close to being knocked out by a Nigerian side energised by the scoring talents of Kanyisola Joseph Odufuwa, who finished with 23 points.

The title holders eventually came through 74-72 to earn a meeting with Morocco, but it was a far from comfortable victory.

After stretching their lead to 64-54 early in the fourth quarter they slipped to being 67-64 down with four-and-a-half minutes left.

DR Congo drew level at 67-67, but Nigeria took the initiative again to lead 69-67 with just over three minutes remaining.

Once again DR Congo rallied to lead 74-69, but their dogged opponents added three more points before running out of time.

Evariste Shonganaya was the man who saved the holders’ blushes as he finished with 20 points.

Their opponents in the first of tomorrow’s semi-finals will be Morocco, who earned a 55-46 win over Kenya, who took silver four years ago.

Jihad Benchlikha was Morocco’s top scorer with 14 points.

Tunisia arrived in the semi-finals after group wins over Morocco and Rwanda, and with the highest field-goal percentage, 52.6 per cent.

They also had the benefit of a three-day rest, while their opponents, the Ivory Coast, had had to play a classification round the previous day.

Despite all this, it was the Ivory Coast who prevailed, by 69-66.

Home hopes of becoming the Ivory Coast's opponents were ended by a 73-63 defeat at the hands of Rwanda.

All four semi-finalists automatically qualify for the third edition of this event in 2017.