Nigeria’s junior D’Tigress suffered a 76-56 defeat at the hands of Mali in the final of the FIBA U-18 Women’s AfroBasket championship on Saturday night.
The loss saw Mali clinch their record ninth title in the competition, with an outstanding performance from tournament MVP Oummou Koumare.
Koumare led the Malian team with a spectacular 31 points, four rebounds, and five steals, dominating the game and sealing the victory for Mali. Her performance not only secured the championship for her team but also earned her the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the tournament.
Despite the loss, there were bright spots for Nigeria. Idubamo Beggi, a standout guard from the MFM Queens basketball team, earned a place on the tournament’s All-Star team. The 18-year-old was a key player in Nigeria’s campaign, scoring an impressive 109 points across six games, helping the Junior D’Tigress reach the final.
While Nigeria fell short of lifting the trophy, the Junior D’Tigress secured a silver lining by qualifying for the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup next year. Their performance in this tournament ensures they will compete on the global stage, representing Africa alongside Mali at the U-19 World Cup.
