ABIDJAN (Côte d'Ivoire) - Ultimately, the 2025 Women's AfroBasket came down to the two remaining undefeated teams, competing for the top prize.
Will the trophy end up in Abuja or Bamako? We'll find out on Sunday, August 3, when Nigeria and Mali face off at the Palais des Sports Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Nigeria and Mali not only passed the group phase with flying colors, but also continued their dominance in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Both teams demonstrated tenacity and resolve to secure a spot in the highly anticipated final game of this year's African Championship.
Historic of Nigeria and Mali
Since the 2011 tournament in Bamako, Nigeria and Mali have faced off six times.
That year, Mali, the host country, ended Nigeria's hopes of winning the title with a 71–62 semifinal victory.
Two years later, in Maputo, Mozambique, Mali defeated Nigeria twice. First, they won 78-45 in the group phase, then they won 57-50 in the fifth-place game.
Nigeria was tired of their continuous defeats at the hands of Mali and could not have found a better stage on which to turn their fortunes around than the 2017 Women's AfroBasket semifinals in Mali. Nigeria walked away with a 48–47 victory, marking the beginning of their eight-year African dominance.
Two years later, in 2019, Nigeria beat Mali 79-58 in Dakar, Senegal. They beat them again in the 2021 tournament final in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Since 2011, Mali and Nigeria have each won three times.
How Mali and Nigeria reached the 2025 title game
Nigeria dominated Group D with a perfect 2–0 record, thanks to victories over Mozambique and Rwanda.
They followed these wins with an 83–47 victory over Cameroon in the quarterfinals and a 75–68 victory over Senegal in the semifinals.
Mali, on the other hand, dominated Group B with victories over South Sudan and Cameroon. In the quarterfinals, Mali overcame Cameroon 86-68 before outclassing South Sudan 76-50 in the semifinals.
A rematch of the 2021 title game
Just like this year, four years ago Mali and Nigeria both reached the Women's AfroBasket undefeated after four games.
Nigeria ultimately brought their A-game, denying Mali a victory with a final score of 70-59.
Interestingly, eight players from each team that played in the 2021 championship game are on the current rosters.
The Mali players who played in the 2021 title game and are in Abidjan are: Rokia Doumbia, Maimouna Haidara, Sika Koné, Djeneba N'Diaye, Aminata Sangaré, Fanta Sissoko, Kadidia Maiga, and Alima Dembélé.
The Nigerian players who played in the 2021 title game and are in Abidjan are: Amy Okonkwo, Pallas Akpanana, Sara Ogoke, Promise Amukamara, Murjunatu Musa, Ezinne Kalu, Victoria Macaulay, and Nicole Enabosi.
The only difference is in the coaching staff of both teams. Back in 2021, Nigeria was led by Senegal's current coach, Otis Hughley Jr., while Luis Brizuela Carrion, who is part of the current Mali coaching team but is not on the bench, led the Malian team.
The age gap
At an average age of 24, Mali was the second youngest team in Abidjan, after Guinea. Nigeria's roster had an average age of 28.
Key takeaways from the 2021 title game
Nigeria took an early lead and never trailed throughout the game.
Mali won the rebounding battle with a 49-39 advantage, but paid the price for their poor three-point shooting (2-for-22), while Nigeria performed relatively better, shooting 7-for-17 from deep..
2025 Women's AfroBasket winner advances to Berlin 2026
The four top-ranked African teams, including the 2025 champions, earned the right to participate in the 2026 Women's Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments in March of next year. However, the champions will secure their spot in the World Cup.
The numbers that separate Mali and Nigeria
After four games of the 2025 Women's AfroBasket tournament, Nigeria emerged as the highest scoring team, averaging 77.5 points per game, compared to Mali's 73.
Nigeria also has a higher field-goal percentage than Mali, shooting 42.6% from the floor compared to Mali's 41%.
Nigeria shoots 26.4% from behind the arc, yet Mali's three-point percentage is even worse at 21%.
Mali ranks second in the tournament in rebounding, behind only South Sudan, with 48.5 boards per game, compared to Nigeria's 42.5.
Nigeria averages 5.3 blocks per game and 1.3 shot interceptions.
Mali moved the ball better than any other team in the competition, registering 22 assists, compared to Nigeria's 17.5.
Nigeria had an efficiency rating of 94.8, while Mali had an efficiency rating of 89.9.
Players to watch in the 2025 Women's AfroBasket Final
With an average of 12.8 points per game, Amy Okonkwo has emerged as Nigeria's leading scorer. The reigning MVP can shoot from almost every corner of the floor.
Djeneba N'Diaye is Mali's top scorer, averaging 12.5 points per game.
Sika Koné is a force of nature who has been pivotal for Mali. She contributes on both ends of the floor, but she causes the most damage to opponents near the basket with her 10.5 rebounds.
Kone has also registered two double-doubles in four games.
Kone has the highest efficiency rating of any player heading to the finals, averaging 14.8, one more than Marjunatu Musa.
Okonkwo has been vital for Nigeria, but her teammate, Ezinne Kalu, has done it all.
From disrupting opponents' crucial plays with her steals to scoring when it matters most, Kalu has proven to be a game changer for Nigeria.
FIBA