Junior D’Tigress book World Cup ticket after beating hosts Côte d’Ivoire

Nigeria's Junior D’Tigress have clinched a berth in the 2027 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup, triumphing over host nation Côte d’Ivoire in a tense 53-50 semi-final at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan. This hard-fought victory not only secures Nigeria's place on the global stage but also advances them to the AfroBasket final for the second consecutive edition. The win ended the hosts' promising run in front of their home crowd and sets up a rematch of the 2024 final against defending champions Mali.

The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, pitting Nigeria against Mali in a repeat of their previous final encounter in Pretoria. The semi-final match itself was a closely contested affair, marked by 11 lead changes and seven ties, as both teams vied for a coveted spot in the final and one of Africa's two tickets to the World Cup in China.

Nigeria established an early lead, winning the first quarter 12-11 and extending it to 27-23 by halftime with a 15-12 second-quarter performance. Côte d’Ivoire mounted a comeback after the break, winning the third quarter 16-14 to narrow the deficit to two points. However, the Junior D’Tigress maintained their composure in the final period, securing the win with a 12-11 fourth-quarter advantage.

Captain Favour Joy Anari spearheaded Nigeria's offense with 15 points and four assists. Oluwatobiloba Owolabi added 11 points, including three successful three-pointers out of four attempts. Nimah Ibidunni was a force on the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds and scoring six points, while Zainab Adelaja contributed six points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. For Côte d’Ivoire, Fatima Diouf scored 12 points, with three rebounds and three assists, and Salimata Koné added nine points. Following the match, Côte d’Ivoire's Jean Mary Diomande cited missed free throws as a key factor in their loss, while Owolabi credited Nigeria's defense for their crucial win.

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Yes, we started slowly and finished strongly. We wanted to win, and we did, thanks to our defence.