Despite a valiant effort, Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress were unable to secure the FIBA U-18 Women’s Afrobasket title, losing 76-56 to Mali in the final.
This marks Mali’s eighth Afrobasket championship, solidifying their dominance in the competition.
The first quarter was a tightly contested affair, with Mali holding a slim 11-8 lead. However, Mali’s dominance became evident in the subsequent quarters, outscoring Nigeria 18-15 in the second, 24-19 in the third, and 23-14 in the fourth.
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Despite facing intense defensive pressure, Nigeria’s Iduamo Beggi led the team with 14 points and four assists, while Patience John added 12 points and four rebounds. Mali’s Oummou Koumare was a standout performer, contributing a game-high 31 points along with four rebounds and four steals. Rokiatu Berthe and Oumou Dabo also played key roles with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
While the Junior D’Tigress ultimately fell short, their performance throughout the tournament was commendable. After a rocky start with two losses in the group stage, they defied expectations to reach the final and secure a place in the FIBA U-18 Women’s World Cup in Switzerland.
Statistically, Mali outperformed Nigeria in several key areas, including field goal percentage and free-throw shooting. Mali’s shooting efficiency was significantly higher than Nigeria’s, contributing to their victory.
