KIGALI (Rwanda) – Following their defeat to Tanzania in the opening match of the 2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AfroBasket tournament, Tunisia made a strong comeback with a hard-fought 58-46 victory over the host team, Rwanda.
Led by Rihem Omri and Ghazal Ayari, Tunisia had to dig deep to overcome a spirited Rwandan side backed by a loud home crowd. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Tunisia truly pulled ahead, securing a vital Group A victory.
Rwanda, who came into the game with momentum from their win over Tanzania, looked eager to continue their winning streak. However, they came up against a determined North African team for whom the word 'quit' does not exist.
The contest began at a furious pace. Neither side managed to pull ahead, and by the midway point of the first quarter, the score was tied at 6–6. By the end of the first quarter, Rwanda had a narrow lead, 13–10.
However, Tunisia refused to fade and fought back to take a slender half-time lead at 26-25. The game remained tight throughout the third quarter, with Rwanda managing to maintain a one-point lead (42–41) going into the final stretch.
That’s when Tunisia turned the tide. Their defence stepped up, racking up four blocks and 14 defensive rebounds in the last ten minutes.
Equally importantly, they protected the ball, committing only seven turnovers compared to Rwanda’s 10.
A decisive 16–5 run in the fourth quarter broke the game wide open, leaving the hosts unable to respond. The final score of 58–46 reflected Tunisia’s resilience, but also highlighted their difficulties.
The winners only converted 4 of their 13 free throws and 2 of their 27 three-point attempts.
Captain Dorra Masmoudi, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, acknowledged that the team still has room for improvement: 'We won, but we need to correct our mistakes. They made the game more difficult than it should have been. Still, our defence held firm, and that’s something we can build on.”
Ghazal Ayari (10 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks) and Rimh Omri (14 points and 13 rebounds) both achieved double-doubles, providing Tunisia with crucial support at pivotal moments. Ayari’s presence in the paint, particularly her four blocks in the fourth quarter, proved decisive.
“The important thing was to show that Tunisia is here and that we can fight,” added Ayari. 'This win is a form of redemption after our defeat. Now that we’ve qualified for the next round, we have to stay focused all the way through,’ Masmoudi added.
Following this result, Tunisia, Rwanda and Tanzania all finished the group campaign with one win and one loss, but Tunisia and Rwanda progressed to the quarter-finals due to their higher point differential.
FIBA