The Nigerian Junior D’Tigers were unable to secure a spot in the semifinals of the FIBA U-18 Afrobasket, losing 81-70 to Mali in their quarterfinal matchup. The boys will face Egypt in the first 5-8 classification game.
This defeat means they will not be among the two African teams representing the continent at the 2025 FIBA U-19 World Cup in Switzerland.
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Despite a promising start, Nigeria struggled to maintain momentum throughout the game. The Junior D’Tigers outscored Mali in the first quarter but were unable to hold on to their lead. Mali’s strong second-quarter performance gave them a narrow advantage going into halftime.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading baskets. However, Nigeria managed to edge out Mali by a single point. The decisive fourth quarter belonged to Mali, who dominated on both ends of the court to secure the victory.
Despite a stellar individual performance, Isaac Ezekiel’s 24 points were not enough to secure a victory for the Junior D’Tigers. The 17-year-old also contributed significantly on the defensive end, recording eight rebounds, three assists, and a game-high seven steals.

Favor Kpee added 12 points, knocking down four of eight three-pointers. Daubuna-Chule Dan-Mutum chipped in with 11 points, while Ekpo Bassey recorded 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Mali’s strong performance was evident in their balanced scoring. Five players reached double figures, led by Youssouf Traore’s impressive double-double. Traore contributed 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Ibrahim Doumbia and Mamadou Traore also scored 17 points each, while Mamadou Diarra and Sekou Bagayoko added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Mali will face West African neighbor Senegal in the semis for a place in the final.
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