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