Record 5,000 fans witnessed Mali win FIBA U18 African Championship 2018
BAMAKO (FIBA U18 African Championship 2018) - Mali on Sunday proved why it is often described as one of Africa's basketball strongholds.
And, Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga was too small to accommodate fans eager to watch the host country taking on Senegal in the final of the FIBA U18 African Championship 2018.
When you win the title on home soil 🇲🇱🏠🙌🥁😀#FIBAU18Africa @BasketMalien pic.twitter.com/3HjHwSHTPk
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 2, 2018
A record of 5,000 fans sold out the stadium, where fans chanted, danced and partied in the best way possible to celebrate the growing popularity of African basketball.
Although both Mali and Senegal on Saturday had earned the right to represent Africa at next year's FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 - after beating Angola and Egypt in the Semi-Finals - fans showed up in huge numbers to witness history being made.
Mali defeated Senegal 78-76 in the highly-anticipated matchup between the two best teams in the competition, and local fans took to the street of Bamako to continue their celebrations.
After all, it was Mali's first-ever FIBA U18 African Championship title.
FIBA
