Junior D’Tigress battle Mali in U-18 AfroBasket final

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Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress will battle Mali in the final of the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket on Sunday (today), having secured their place in the title match and a ticket to the 2027 FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in China with a 53-50 semi-final victory over hosts Ivory Coast on Friday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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The final, scheduled for the Palais des Sports dome in Treichville, will be a repeat of the 2024 championship match, in which Mali defeated Nigeria 76-56 in Pretoria, South Africa, to lift the title.

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Against Ivory Coast, the Junior D’Tigress showed composure in a tight contest that went down to the wire.

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Nigeria edged the first quarter 12-11 before extending their lead to 27-23 at halftime. They maintained control in the third quarter, winning it 14-13 to lead 41-36, before holding off a fierce late rally, in which the hosts won the fourth quarter 12-11, to close out a three-point win.

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Favour Joy Anari led Nigeria’s scoring with 15 points, four assists and five steals, while Oluwatobiloba Owolabi added 11 points, including three of four attempts from beyond the arc. Nimah Ibidunni dominated the boards with 12 rebounds and six points, and Zainab Adelaja contributed six points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

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Mali reached the final with a 57-55 semi-final win over Egypt and go into Sunday’s match as reigning champions chasing a tenth AfroBasket title in the age category. They have won nine titles and two silver medals in the competition’s history, compared with Nigeria’s two silver medals.

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Mali topped their group unbeaten, defeating Benin 124-20, Morocco 103-30 and Egypt 62-57, before thrashing Kenya 93-22 in the quarter-final. Maimouna Traore, Suzane Dembele, Assan Mariko, Couda Keita and Aminata Samake have been Mali’s key players in Abidjan.

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Nigeria, on the other hand, finished the group stage with a 2-1 record, having beaten Tunisia 54-50 and Senegal 70-40, and lost 75-74 to Cameroon. They avenged that defeat in the quarter-final, beating Cameroon 75-45, before edging Ivory Coast in the last-four. Coach Peter Akindele is expected to rely on Anari, Adelaja, Owolabi, Ibidunni, Bisola Arowolo and Khadijah Alli for the final.

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Owolabi said the Junior D’Tigress were determined to change the narrative against Mali on Sunday.

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“We’re aware that they are the defending champions and beat Nigeria in the 2024 final, but it will not be easy for Mali this time. As a team, we’re determined to change the narrative this time,” she said.

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Both teams have already secured their places at the 2027 World Cup in China, meaning Sunday’s clash is solely for continental bragging rights.

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Meanwhile, the National Sports Commission has congratulated the Junior D’Tigress for qualifying for the World Cup, describing their semi-final win over Ivory Coast as a demonstration of resilience in a difficult environment.

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Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, commended the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, led by President Musa Kida, for the progressive success recorded by the country’s national teams, particularly the women’s teams.

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“The girls have done very well to secure their place at the Women’s World Cup in China next year, which shows their commitment, patriotism and discipline. Now that the World Cup ticket has been secured, I have no doubt that they can win the AfroBasket in Sunday’s final against Mali,” Olopade said.

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The qualification of the Junior D’Tigress follows that of the senior team, D’Tigress, who also qualified for the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany, scheduled for September 2026.

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