Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress have missed out on the U18 Afrobasket Championship title after suffering a 77–68 defeat to Mali in a fiercely contested final.
The Nigerian girls fought bravely throughout the championship decider but were unable to dethrone the reigning champions, as Mali held their nerve to secure another continental crown.
The victory saw Mali claim their 10th U18 Afrobasket title and their third consecutive championship, further strengthening their dominance in African women’s youth basketball.
Despite the defeat, Nigeria’s impressive run to the final earned them a place at the 2027 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in China.
Mali, as champions, will also represent Africa at the global tournament alongside Nigeria.
The Junior D’Tigress can take pride in their determined campaign, although they will have to wait another year for another opportunity to end Mali’s reign over the continental competition.
