KIGALI (Rwanda) – As the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket tournament progresses towards the knockout rounds, the list of potential winners is becoming clearer.
Both Egypt and Mali extended their records to 2-0 and moved within touching distance of the quarter-finals.
Egypt had to grind out a 74-61 victory over a spirited Liberia, while Mali battled past a determined Morocco side 67-54.
Both teams have won the tournament before and are known for being strong competitors, so their clash on Wednesday will not only determine the winner of Group C, but also indicate who could go far in Kigali.
Egypt prove too much for Liberia
The Pharaohs went into this tournament expecting to go far, and they demonstrated their pedigree against Liberia. However, it was far from easy.
Despite being reduced to just eight players, Liberia pushed Egypt hard throughout the game with their determination and hard work. The final scoreline of 74–61 doesn’t fully reflect the resistance they put up.
Egypt won the opening frame 16-11, but the game was still balanced at half-time, with the Pharaohs leading 29-22. Each time Egypt tried to extend their lead, Liberia found a way to respond.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter, when the Pharaohs went on a 25–21 run, that the silver medallists from the previous tournament finally pulled ahead.
Karim Hendy was at the heart of Egypt’s efforts, recording a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Nevertheless, the statistics told a surprising story: Liberia’s depleted squad outscored Egypt off the bench (31 to 25), matched them for second-chance points (eight apiece) and produced more inside scoring (19 to 16).
After the win, Hendy admitted that Egypt had lessons to learn. 'We kind of expected this type of opposition, but we had studied their game. We made silly mistakes, mistakes we cannot afford to make in our next game.”
Mali withstand challenge from Morocco
Just like Egypt, Mali had to work hard for their victory. With only seven players available, the West Africans relied on their trademark resilience to hold off Morocco, winning 67–54.
Mali established an early lead, forcing Morocco to play catch-up. The North Africans came alive in the third quarter, outscoring Mali 23–18, but the reigning bronze medallists had already done enough to control the outcome.
“We just followed the coach’s instructions and played as a team. That’s why our defence worked so well today,” said N’Dji Coulibaly, who scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Coulibaly had plenty of support, with three other teammates also scoring in double figures. Bakary Ballo led all scorers with 19 points, Mohamed Keita produced 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Moustapha Doumbia came off the bench to add 11 points.
Morocco refused to go quietly. Captain Mehdi Berrada scored 15 points and had 4 rebounds and 6 assists, and Sofiane Ben Rezouk also finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists. The Moroccan bench added 16 points — a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating performance.
However, Mali made the key plays when it mattered. They capitalised on Morocco’s 18 turnovers to score 25 points, and their speed in transition proved decisive, racking up 30 fast-break points compared to Morocco's mere two.
With two wins from two games, both Egypt and Mali are through to the quarter-finals.
However, their head-to-head clash on Wednesday is now the game everyone is waiting for. The winner will not only take first place in Group C, but also head into the knockout stage brimming with confidence and momentum, believing that they can go all the way in Kigali.
FIBA