Nigeria Falls to Mali in FIBA U-18 Women’s Afrobasket Final
Nigeria’s junior D’Tigress suffered a 76-56 loss to Mali in the FIBA U-18 Women’s Afrobasket final on Saturday. Mali’s Oummou Koumare, the tournament’s MVP, scored 31 points, grabbed four rebounds, and made five steals.
Despite a strong start, Nigeria struggled to keep up with Mali’s dominance. The Malians won all four quarters, outscoring Nigeria 30-16 in the paint and capitalizing on fast breaks with 15 points.
Nigeria’s Idubamo Beggi earned a spot in the tournament’s All-Star team, scoring 109 points across six games. Beggi’s performance helped the Junior D’Tigress qualify for the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup next year.
Mali claimed their ninth title, while Nigeria secured a runner-up finish. The Junior D’Tigress showed promise, and their qualification for the U-19 World Cup provides a platform for future growth.
Final Score: Mali 76, Nigeria 56
Mali’s Stats:
- Oummou Koumare (31 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals)
- Paint score: 30-16
- Fast break points: 15
Nigeria’s Stats:
- Idubamo Beggi (109 points across six games)
- Bench points: 24
The Junior D’Tigress’s impressive run and World Cup qualification demonstrate the potential of Nigerian women’s basketball.
