KIGALI (Rwanda) – After losing to the hosts, Rwanda, in their opening match of the 2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AfroBasket tournament, Tanzania made a strong comeback with a 60-53 victory over Tunisia.
This win took Tanzania's Group A record to 1-1.
Led by captain Rose Katamboy, the team showed resilience and turned the tide with a strong performance in the second half.
Having trailed by 11 points in the second quarter, they took the lead with 4:55 on the clock and went on to secure only their second ever win at the competition. Their first victory also took place in Kigali on 28 July 2019, when they defeated Rwanda 42–36.
Katamboy delivered an outstanding all-round performance. She finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 7 steals and 2 blocks, shooting 9 out of 23 from the field and 8 out of 12 from the free-throw line.
“We had the mentality to fight and win. We worked hard in defence to achieve that,” she said after the game.
However, the contest started badly for Tanzania.
They briefly led 6–3 midway through the first quarter, but Tunisia responded quickly to finish the opening frame ahead 18–11. The North Africans maintained their momentum to reach halftime with a 35-29 lead.
Coach Cathbet John Maganga’s team began to claw their way back in the third quarter. A 12–9 run reduced the deficit to just three points (44–41), setting the stage for a thrilling final stretch. In the fourth quarter, Katamboy once again took matters into her own hands, collecting five steals, four points and five rebounds to fuel a decisive 19–9 run that secured Tanzania's victory.
“The energy didn’t change from the first to the fourth quarter. We just focused more on defence in the second half,’ Katamboy explained, already shifting her attention to the next challenge. “No matter who we play, we will learn from today’s mistakes and try to go even further.”
For coach Maganga, who was in tears of joy at the final buzzer, it was teamwork that made all the difference. 'We told them there was nothing to lose, to stay positive and keep fighting. They remained poised and positive throughout the game, even when trailing Tunisia.”
Glory Mgowano contributed 17 points and 3 rebounds to the winning cause, while Rihem Omri led Tunisia with 17 points.
This win means Tanzania finish group play at 1–1, while Tunisia drop to 0–1. The North Africans now face a do-or-die match against the hosts, Rwanda, if they are to keep their campaign alive.
FIBA