LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Nigeria’s U18 Women’s basketball team the Junior D’Tigress are preparing for a high-stakes clash against hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the semifinal of the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket Championship on Friday, August 14.
The encounter promises drama and intensity, with both teams eyeing not only a place in Sunday’s final but also qualification for the 2027 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in China.
The Junior D’Tigress side booked their place in the last four after a rollercoaster campaign.
They suffered a narrow 75–74 overtime defeat to Cameroon in the group stage but bounced back with a commanding 70–40 win over Senegal.
In the quarter-finals, they exacted revenge on Cameroon, thrashing them 75–45 after racing to a 20–8 first-quarter lead and a 48–20 advantage at halftime.
Junior D’Tigress coach, Peter Akindele credited a tactical switch for the turnaround, while standout performances came from Zainab Adelaja (13 points, eight rebounds, three assists) and Favour Anari (16 points, two rebounds, three assists).
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Ivory Coast, meanwhile, have been the tournament’s most dominant team. They swept Group A with three wins, including a record-breaking 102–13 victory over the Central African Republic.
The hosts then dispatched Uganda and Kenya before eliminating Tunisia in the quarter-finals.
Backed by passionate home support, they are determined to improve on their ninth-place finish in 2024.
This semifinal marks the first meeting between the Junior D’Tigress and Ivory Coast at this tournament, adding intrigue to the contest.
For Nigeria, victory would secure back-to-back finals appearances after finishing runners-up to Mali in 2024. For Ivory Coast, it would be a historic breakthrough on home soil.
The winners will advance to Sunday’s final, with both finalists earning Africa’s places at the 2027 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in China.
