Mali beat Nigeria again to retain U18 Women’s AfroBasket crown

Mali has once again asserted its dominance in the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket, defeating Nigeria 77-68 in the final to secure their continental title. The victory in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, marks Mali's second three-peat in the competition's history, extending their impressive run of success.

Mali has now claimed five of the last six championship titles, with Egypt winning in 2020 before Mali reclaimed the top spot in 2022, 2024, and now 2026. For Nigeria's Junior D’Tigress, this defeat represents another heartbreaking final loss to their Malian rivals, who also defeated them 76-56 in the 2024 final.

Favour Joy Anari was a standout performer for Nigeria, scoring 26 points and keeping her team in contention with strong scoring and rebounding efforts. However, Mali established an early lead and maintained control despite Nigeria's attempts to rally.

Coumba Keita led Mali's offense with 25 points, supported by Maimouna Traoré's 18 points. The champions concluded the tournament undefeated in six games. This result means Nigeria has now finished as runners-up at the U18 Women’s AfroBasket for the third time.

Despite the loss, Anari received individual recognition for her performance, earning a spot on the All-Star Team. She was joined by Mali's Traoré and Assan Mariko, Hania Hassabelnaby of Egypt, and Eveline Toyounon of Cameroon. Traoré was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player for her crucial contributions, while Keita finished as the leading scorer with an average of 20 points per game and also won the award for best three-pointer.

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Mali made a strong start and did enough to stay ahead despite Nigeria’s attempts to fight back.