KIGALI (Rwanda) – On Sunday 14 September, a new chapter in the history of African youth basketball was written.
Côte d'Ivoire overcame Cameroon in the final to become the fifth nation to lift the U16 AfroBasket trophy, following in the footsteps of Guinea, the 2023 champions.
This victory also means that two new African nations will represent the continent at the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup.
The 12-team tournament had its fair share of surprises and milestones. From Côte d'Ivoire's crowning moment, to Egypt missing the podium for the first time and Liberia's long-awaited victory, Kigali played host to a host of unforgettable storylines between 2 and 14 September.
In this article we recall the key takeaways from the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket tournament
Côte d’Ivoire’s breakthrough triumph
The Elephants' 62–49 victory over Cameroon in the final was about much more than the score.
It was the culmination of a team that remained faithful to its commitment from start to finish.
Two players led the charge: the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP), Jean-Philippe Oka, who scored 18 points and took 6 rebounds; and Iréné Raphael Ouédraogo, who scored 10 points and took an extraordinary 20 rebounds.
Côte d’Ivoire were unstoppable from inside the paint, scoring 46 points compared to Cameroon’s 28. Their semi-final victory over the heavily favoured Egypt, the most successful nation in the competition with five African titles, was the turning point. That 75–58 victory was a statement of intent.
In doing so, they brought an end to the Egyptians' dominance, denying them a place in the title game for the first time in the event's history.
Oka made it clear what this meant: "In all our history at the U16 AfroBasket, we never made it beyond the quarter-finals. This time, we’ve made it to the final, a goal we’ve been working towards for over a year.”
Their ultimate victory over Cameroon was the culmination of ambition, resilience, and belief.
Two new African teams at the FIBA U17 World Cup
With the defending champions, Guinea, eliminated early on, and Mali and Egypt bowing out in the semi-finals, the door was wide open. Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon seized their opportunity, earning historic places at next year's FIBA U17 World Cup.
Until now, only Egypt, Mali, Angola, Tunisia and Guinea had represented Africa at the event. With the young Elephants and Indomitable Cubs, the circle has now widened.
Ouédraogo summed it up: 'This tournament has not been easy for us. We came to win, and although Cameroon put up a good fight, we’re happy with the result. We’re now African champions, a title not given to just anyone. We’re going to represent the continent and be proud ambassadors.”
Mali’s valiant run to the bronze medal
Mali proved that having fewer players does not necessarily mean being outclassed.
Facing Egypt with a depleted squad, few believed they could win the bronze medal.
However, just as they had done throughout the tournament, they delivered when it mattered most.
Their 58–51 victory over the five-time champions in the bronze medal match capped a remarkable run. Defeating Egypt twice in the same tournament — once in the group phase and again in the third-place play-off — is an achievement that few could have imagined.
Captain Bakary Ballo revealed the team’s driving force: “We were short of five players. But they were with us all along, and we felt we owed them something.'
All-Star Team reveals driving force and talent
Jean-Philippe Oka capped Côte d’Ivoire’s historic triumph with the MVP award, shining as the tournament’s most dominant presence. Averaging 16.2 points, 12 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.8 assists per game, he carried the Elephants to an unbeaten campaign that ended with the championship crown.
His efforts also earned him a place in the All-Tournament Team, where he was joined by teammate Irené Ouedraogo. With 10.8 points, 12 rebounds and 22 in efficiency per game, Ouedraogo’s rebounding and defensive impact proved crucial.
Cameroon’s finalists Nolan Ngangmeni and Olivier Ngoumou also made the list after powering their side to the title game. Ngangmeni 16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2 assists per game were vital for Cameroon, as well as Ngoumou’s 8.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 16.5 efficiency.
Mali’s Bakary Ballo, who captained the former African champions, was also recognized for his leadership in securing the bronze medal. He averaged 15.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3 assists for 11.3 efficiency.
A first taste of victory for Liberia
For Liberia, the defining memory of Kigali was not winning a medal, but achieving a historic breakthrough. Their 74–69 victory over Morocco secured the nation's first ever win at a FIBA U16 AfroBasket tournament.
Kamara Kosso was the hero of the hour, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while anchoring a defensive effort that saw Liberia collect 41 rebounds. The celebrations at the final whistle spoke volumes.
Emotional after the game, Kosso put words to the feeling: 'This means everything to us. This is the game of a lifetime! We trained so hard for this moment, and today we received support that we never expected.” He added tribute to the Sierra Leonean fans and the small but vocal group of Liberian supporters who lifted the team from the stands.
Although the win won't be reflected in the medal standings, its significance back home is immeasurable. For Kosso and his teammates, this victory could define a generation.
Record number of participating teams
For the first time since the tournament's inception in 2009, all twelve teams attended the FIBA U16 AfroBasket tournament.
Prior to the event in Kigali, the largest number of participating teams was 11, which competed in Mali in 2015.
The 2021 edition of the tournament, held in Cairo, Egypt, had the lowest participation rate so far. This was due to the ongoing effects of the COVID pandemic.
FIBA