Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress have settled for the silver medal at the 2026 FIBA U-18 Women’s AfroBasket after losing 77- 68 to defending champions Mali in the final in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Sunday.
The Nigerian girls entered the championship clash with hopes of dethroning Mali and reclaiming the continental crown, but the defending champions produced a commanding performance to retain their title.
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Mali established control early and maintained their advantage throughout the contest, eventually securing a convincing 9 -point victory over Nigeria.
The triumph further strengthens Mali’s dominance in the competition, with the West Africans claiming another continental crown after successfully defending their title.
Despite the defeat, the Junior D’Tigress can take pride in an impressive campaign that saw them reach the final and secure a place at the 2027 FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in China.
Nigeria and Mali earned Africa’s two qualification tickets to next year’s global age-grade championship by reaching the AfroBasket final.
For the Junior D’Tigress, the silver medal represents another strong showing on the continental stage and provides valuable experience for a young generation of Nigerian players.
The result also gives Nigeria another opportunity to build towards future success, particularly with several members of the squad expected to progress into the senior national team setup.
While Mali celebrates another AfroBasket triumph, Nigeria will return home as continental runners-up and with a World Cup ticket secured.
Final: Mali 77-68 Nigeria
