ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - The battle for a place in the Championship Game of the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket between Mali and Senegal lived up to the billing.
The afternoon clash at Palais des Sports de Treichville was played with high energy and intensity of teams familiar with each other. Senegal claimed a 55-51 win.
An 8-0 run to start the game from Senegal forced Mali into a timeout, after which they ran a full-court press.
However, it was Senegal that scored again and also responded with a press, and the outcome was a 23-13 first-quarter lead.
Big man Sekou Bagayoko opened the second quarter with a triple, but Senegal remained ahead in what was a low-scoring quarter before Ibourahima Coulibaly knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the lead down to 7 (28-21) with just over two minutes to play.
However, Bacary Doucoure and Mouhamed Badiane restored Senegal’s double-digit lead as the victors were ahead by 13 (34-21) at halftime.
Senegal started the third quarter with a 7-2 run, extending their lead to 17, and coach Moussa Cisse was forced to call for a timeout. However, Senegal remained relentless on defense and patient on offense but Mali, through Mohamed Keita, capitalised on a series of errors late in the quarter from Senegal to cut the deficit down to 10 points (47-37).
Mali cut the lead down to single digits through Mamadou Niama Sissoko’s fast-break dunk, and the sound of the drums got louder. Coach Mouhamed Sene had to call a timeout to arrest the skid, but it was Mali that scored after the breather, and the lead was down to 5 (51-46) midway through the quarter.
The final five minutes of the game were frenetic and had fans on their feet.
A big 3-pointer from Bagayoko with 23 seconds on the clock pulled Mali within 3 points (54-51). Coach Sene called for a timeout after which Fredric Mane missed two free throws but was later let off the hook by Pape Diallo, who hit one of two throws to ice the game, 55-51.
Badiane (11 points & 7 rebounds) and Diallo (10) scored in double figures for Senegal, and skipper Code Mbengue had 9 points and game-high 17 rebounds.
For Mali, it was Keita who led the scoring with a game-high 16 points. Bagayoko (11) and Mouhamed Sanogo (10) also rached double fiuures.
The victory sends Senegal to next year’s FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
FIBA