Mali beat hosts Egypt to win FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship

CAIRO (2016 FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship) - There was nothing Egypt could do to prevent Mali from defending their FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship title on Sunday in Cairo.

Playing in front of a sellout home crowd, Egypt lost 84–61.

Two years after finishing runners-up to Mali - in a contest also played in Cairo -, Egypt looked determined to turn their fortunes around, but the Western Africans proved too much for them.

As well as finishing the tournament undefeated in six games, Mali never trailed, dominating Egypt from start to finish.

Although Mali led 35-23 at the break, they kept their best for last to close the contest with a comprehensive 23-point win.

Mali duo of Salimatou Kourouma and Adama Coulibaly combined for 49 points and 26 rebounds while Meral Abdelgawad and Radwa Sherif - the only Egyptians to score in double figures - finished with 19 and 15 points, respectively.

In the process, Abdelgawad was named the tournament MVP.

FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship All-Tournament team from left to right: Veloso, Abdelgawad, Diakite, Coulibaly, and Khalifa.

She also headlined the All-Tournament team alongside teammate Nesma Khalifa, Silvia Veloso (Mozambique), and Mali duo of Aminata Diakite, Coulibaly.

Both Egypt and Mali will represent Africa at next summer’s FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Italy.

In the Third-Place Game, Mozambique led all but 47 seconds to beat Angola 56-43.

Although the Mozambicans finished with a 25 percent field-goal shooting [against Angola’s 30 percent] and looked sloppy offensively at times, they came up strong in the paint out-rebounding Angola 56-40 to claim the bronze medal for the fourth time in a row.

Making only 36 percent [5 for 14] from the charity stripe and turning the ball over 23 times didn’t do the Angolans any favours.

Mozambique’s Iolanda Francisco finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Silvia Veloso added a game-best 20 points while Regina Pequeno, the only Angolan to score in double figures, contributed a team-high 11 points.

Early in the day, Madagascar beat Tunisia 59-45 to finish fifth, while Algeria finished seventh thanks to a 59-43 victory over Uganda.

FIBA AFRICA U18 Women's Championship Final Standings
1. Mali
2. Egypt
3. Mozambique
4. Angola
5. Madagascar
6. Tunisia
7. Algeria
8. Uganda

FIBA