FIBA World Cup Predictions: Iran – Lebanon (02-09-2023)

While the focus is currently on the second round, where teams are fighting for a chance to play in the quarter-finals, the teams competing for places 17-32 should be noticed too.

Yes, most of these teams are from Africa and Asia, and the players are less familiar, but the FIBA World Cup 2023 is a great opportunity to get to know the level of basketball in these cultures.

Another important point is that the 17-32 teams are not only playing for honour, but also for a direct ticket to the 2024 Summer Olympics. This is most relevant for Asia and Africa, as no team from this continent has yet secured a place.

On September 2nd, the match between Iran and Lebanon will take place, where the Olympics could be decided.

Lebanon started the FIBA World Cup with two awful defeats – 70:109 against Latvia and 73:128 against Canada.

The level of the players is different, and there was no intrigue in the matches, but on the other hand, it seems that these matches did not tire the players too much and that the national team is showing a better and better game when it comes to the most important battles.

In the last group match against France, Lebanon showed a different side and only lost 79:85.

In the first game for the 17-32 places, Lebanon scored a crucial victory over the Ivory Coast – the Lebanese, who were in control throughout the match, successfully closed out the fourth quarter with a 94:84 win.

When weaker teams are playing, one Lebanese player stands out in particular – 26-year-old naturalised Omari Spellman, who had a solid role with the Golden State Warriors in 2019-20. In the game against Ivory Coast, the big man scored 25 points.

Iran also had two tough games in the group, losing 59:100 and 65:85 against Brazil and Spain. Meanwhile, they lost only 69:71 against Ivory Coast, and the last match was a 55:82 defeat against France.

The game against Lebanon should be much tougher, as the level of the opponent will be similar. Still, looking at the recent performances of the teams, Lebanon is more of a team on the rise, with a solid performance in their last two games and an Olympic dream still within reach for a team with one win already.

This FIBA World Cup 2023 prediction is for guidance only and we are not responsible for your bets.