The Junior D’Tigress of Nigeria is out on Saturday, (14 September 2024) looking to destroy the form book as they confront Champions Mali in the final of the 2024 FIBA Afrobasket for their maiden title.
Mali shown their intent from the first day of the competition, having blew away all their five opponents on the final, and they have emerged as a favourite to make it record-extending ninth title on Saturday in Pretoria.
Both sides have had different paths to the Final, the defending champions getting here unbeaten while Nigeria, chasing a maiden title, lost two Group Phase matches before embarking on their winning run in the knockout stages.
Mali is currently on a 15-1 winning streak in the U18 Women’s AfroBasket.
Their last loss (68-63) in the competition happened in the 2020 final against hosts Egypt
Nigeria’s run has included two upsets against Egypt and Uganda in the Quarters and Semis respectively, sides that Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu-led side had lost to in the Group Phase.
However, their march could easily be brought to a halt by a well-oiled Mali machine that has barely put a foot wrong and are favourites both statistically and in terms of experience.
In this campaign, Diakite Sory’s charges have averaged 94.6 points, more than 20 what Nigeria have and that alone is enough to worry the 2010 silver medalists who are out to repeat their feat then, where they denied Mali a chance at the title with a 57-44 win in the semis.
In their quest, Nigeria will rely on leaders Idubamo Beggi and Abigail Isaac, a duo that has proven crucial, the former leading the side’s scoring with a 19 points per game average and 5.6 assists while Isaac leads the side in rebounding with a 14.6 average. Momoluwa Ayomide Tewogbade is also expected to push their charge.
This is Nigeria’s final appearance since 2010
However, coach Dislike must be resting easy knowing his arsenal led by skipper Mama Sidiki Doumbia, Oummou Koumare and Oumou Dabo has been unstoppable. The 3 have averaged 20.8, 15.0 and 12.6 points per game, with Dabo leading on rebounding with an 11.2 average.
In his post game interview, coach Diakite says he is confident of a win while adding that the target is to improve on their performance on the global stage as they make their seventh appearance in the U19 Women’s World Cup.
His opposite number Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu acknowledged how good Mali’s transition game was, saying they had scouted the opponent and would have a response despite going in against a more experienced side.
Irrespective of the outcome, both countries will represent the continent of Africa at next year’s FIBA U 19 Women World Cup.
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