KIGALI (Rwanda) – On day three of the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket tournament at the Petit Stade in Kigali, Mali and Côte d'Ivoire dominated the two games involving four West African nations.
FIBA.basketball provides a snapshot of the day's events.
Mali dig deep to tame Liberia
Mali, who finished third in the 2023 tournament, had to work hard against debutants Liberia. Mali won 69–57.
Liberia pushed the Eagles to the limit. However, a timely 13–8 run late in the second quarter gave Mali the momentum they needed to pull ahead and secure the win.
With only seven players available for this Group A clash, Mali’s task was far from easy. Liberia, also short-handed with four players absent, gave their all in the contest, ensuring a competitive battle from start to finish.
Mali led 44–28 at halftime. A 14-7 scoring run midway through the third quarter appeared to put the game beyond reach, but Liberia refused to give up.
Three Malian players finished with double-digit scores. Bakary Ballo led the way with 19 points, while N’Dji Ibourahima Coulibaly added 16. Mohamed Keita rounded off his performance with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, as well as 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Leabon David also achieved a double-double for Liberia, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kamara Kosso netted 19 points in 33 minutes and 48 seconds on the court, contributing 9 rebounds to his team’s total. David Evans was the third Liberian player to reach double figures, scoring 10 points.
Liberia mounted an impressive 20–11 run in the final frame, showing remarkable resilience. However, it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit, and Mali closed out the eight-point win.
Côte d'Ivoire cruised over Sierra Leone in a one-sided game
In a one-sided contest against Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire showcased their efficiency, cruising to a 112-27 victory — the highest score recorded so far at the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket.
Jean-Philippe Oka spearheaded the Elephants' offence, scoring 26 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.
However, it was Adama Sisi Koné who stole the spotlight, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds for an impressive efficiency rating of 49 — the best of the game.
Three other Ivorian players also reached double figures. Omar Mangassouba added 14 points, while Antoine Mohamed Konan and Biza Martial Junior N’goran each contributed 10.
“It wasn’t as easy as it looked, but we managed to win the game. We have to keep working because we didn’t come here just to participate,” said Oka after the game.
The Ivorians started strongly, establishing a 34–2 lead by the end of the first quarter. By half-time, the gap had ballooned to 61 points (69–8), leaving no doubt about the outcome.
Sierra Leone managed to reach double digits in the second half, but Côte d’Ivoire were already more than 70 points ahead by then. The Elephanteaux finished the contest in style, securing a 112–27 victory and the largest margin of victory in the tournament so far
FIBA