KIGALI (Rwanda) - The 2025 U16 Women's AfroBasket, hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, produced more than just a champion. For the first time in the competition's history, a new nation stood atop the podium: Egypt.
After six unsuccessful attempts against Mali, the Pharaohs finally succeeded on the seventh attempt, claiming their maiden title by overcoming Côte d'Ivoire 66–54 in the final on Sunday, 14 September. Having featured in all nine editions so far, the team has only missed the podium once, in 2015, when they came seventh.
Guard Fatma Abdella led the charge for the North Africans and was eventually awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title, having finished with a team-high efficiency rating of 13.5. The 15-year-old averaged 6.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 5 assists.
All-Star Team
She was the standout player in the All-Tournament Team, alongside her teammate Zeina Amin and the Ivorian duo Jane Diomande and Emmanuela William. Also included were Cameroon's Shanice Mbaha.
Egypt's historic title
Egypt's moment of glory came thanks to several defining moments in the 2025 campaign.
Top of the list was the defeat of eight-time champions Mali, the biggest threat to the Pharaohs' quest for the throne, by Côte d'Ivoire in the semi-finals.
The Ivorians' desperation, tenacity and self-belief in their 45–40 victory wrote a new chapter in the tournament's history, and few saw it coming. This not only came as a surprise, but was also a remarkable achievement for Côte d'Ivoire, who had lost heavily to Mali (65–38) in the group stage just a week earlier.
Mali arrived in Kigali with an impressive 30-1 winning streak dating back to the 2015 tournament (their only loss coming against Egypt in 2021), but Côte d'Ivoire put an end to this remarkable run and will now make their world stage debut next year.
"Even if we lost the final, we’re proud of what we achieved. We’re going to the World Cup next year and we’re even prouder of that. We had a training camp together, and the closer we got, the more connected we became."
"We learned that anything can happen, and that if we want to win, we can. This trophy is for everyone who supported us along the way.” – Jane Mary Diomande, Côte d’Ivoire forward said.
When it rains, it pours', and Mali's experience in 2025 best exemplifies this, as the team suffered further disappointment by losing 55–53 to debutants Cameroon in the third-place match.
The debutants came back from a 16-point deficit, their fearless attitude and fighting spirit coming to the fore as they stifled Mali's podium chances.
This was the second time that a Cameroonian side had made the podium in the women's AfroBasket tournament on their debut, after their U18 team had settled for bronze in last year's tournament in South Africa.
In the U16 event, teams such as Kenya and Tanzania enjoyed considerable success. Kenya made their debut, while Tanzania registered their second ever win, six years after their first, to qualify for the knockout stages.
Tanzania
Tanzania's two victories against Tunisia gave a glimpse of what the future could hold for a program still in its early steps. For coach Cathbet John Maganga, it was more than just a win, terming it 'just the beginning'.
Beyond the numbers, he sees this breakthrough as a seed that could grow into something larger, especially for the next generation of players.
“With this victory, we’re setting a blueprint for Tanzania basketball. Nobody will hand you a win — you have to take the initiative, step forward, and keep building. This is our footprint, and we hope it takes us higher," the tactician said.
Kigali fans
The fans at the Petit Stade in Kigali cheered and jeered the youngsters in equal measures, providing the sought-after stadium atmosphere that has characterized the Women's AfroBasket and the AfroBasket.
For the Pharaohs, this win marks the start of a promising and ambitious new era on the continental stage, but they cannot rest on their laurels as an entire continent has sights set on their crown. Will they borrow a leaf from Mali's book to dominate?
FIBA