Cruel defeat for Belgium in Finland, who remain at the top of the Blues’ group

Once again, the Belgian Lions delivered a quality performance without managing to convert their efforts. This Sunday in Espoo, in front of 6,822 spectators, the Belgian team lost by just three points to Finland (75-78), as part of the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar.

A promising start spoiled by inexperience

Belgium had taken control from the first quarter (17-22), carried by the exceptional accuracy of Vrenz Bleijenbergh (6/9 from 3-point range) and Loïc Schwartz (6/9 as well). The Lions still led at halftime (34-37) despite 23 points from Olivier Nkamhoua on the Finnish side.

Experience ultimately made the difference. On several occasions, the Belgian players were unable to score for long stretches, allowing the Finns to regain the advantage (56-52 at the start of the final quarter). Turnovers weighed heavily: 16 for Belgium against only 9 for Finland.

A thrilling finish but not enough

Down 75-67 with less than a minute remaining, the Belgian Lions showed admirable character. Vrenz Bleijenbergh hit multiple baskets to bring his team within one possession (77-75). Mikael Jantunen converted only one of his free throws (78-75), giving Belgium one last chance.

Bleijenbergh’s final attempt unfortunately fell just short, sealing a fourth consecutive defeat in these qualifiers. Loïc Schwartz (19 points) was the main contributor to this strong Belgian resistance.

Despite this setback, the Lions demonstrated they could compete with the best European teams. This encouraging performance, though frustrating, shows the potential of this young Belgian team that continues to learn at the highest level. Finland, qualified for the second round of this preliminary phase of the 2027 World Cup, maintains the lead in Group G ahead of France, with 3 wins in 4 matches.