Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress fell short in the final of the 2024 FIBA U-18 Women’s Afrobasket, losing 76-56 to Mali in Pretoria, South Africa.
Despite a valiant effort, the Nigerian team was unable to overcome their Malian counterparts, who secured a comfortable 20-point victory.
Mali’s Oummou Koumare dominated the game, earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award with an outstanding performance of 31 points, four rebounds, and five steals in the final.
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Nigeria’s path to the final had its ups and downs, with reports indicating struggles with visa issues and delays at the South African embassy. After a slow start, they bounced back with an impressive 107-30 victory over Zimbabwe in their second group game.
Although they suffered a 64-80 loss to Uganda in their third group match, the Junior D’Tigress advanced to the knockout stages. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Egypt 66-51 and earned a hard-fought 71-67 victory over Uganda in the semifinals.
Despite the loss in the final, Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress secured qualification for the 2025 FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup, showcasing their potential on the international stage.