Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire End Group Phase with Defeats on Day 3 of FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup

Africa's representatives closed out their group phase of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup with defeats on Day 3 in Istanbul, Türkiye, as they faced powerful basketball nations, Canada and Serbia.

Cameroon were overpowered by Canada in a 104-64 defeat, while Côte d’Ivoire fell 97-71 to Serbia. Despite the losses, both teams produced individual bright spots against opponents who showcased their quality and depth throughout the contest.

Canada wasted no time imposing themselves against Cameroon, opening the game with an emphatic dunk from Isaiah Clarke before racing into an early lead they would never surrender. The North Americans dictated the pace from the opening possession, using relentless defensive pressure, fast-break opportunities and efficient shooting to steadily increase their advantage.

Cameroon briefly responded midway through the opening quarter with a 6-0 run led by Lenny Nouhet-Epesse Titi, trimming the deficit and showing flashes of confidence. However, Canada quickly regained complete control, finishing the first half with a comfortable double-digit cushion before pulling further away after the break.

The decisive stretch came during the third quarter when Canada tightened its defense and continued to punish Cameroon in transition. The lead grew beyond 25 points, effectively putting the contest out of reach long before the final whistle.

Canada’s balanced offense proved difficult to contain, with several players making significant contributions. Liam Mitakaro led all Canadian scorers with 23 points, while Isaiah Clarke produced an outstanding all-around performance, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two assists. Noah D’Acre also added 13 points off the bench as Canada displayed the depth that has made them one of the tournament favourites.

For Cameroon, Yuma Mendoua Ze once again emerged as one of the team’s standout performers. The versatile guard recorded 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals while continuing to provide leadership on both ends of the floor. Although the result was disappointing, Cameroon showed moments of resilience against one of the strongest teams in the competition.

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Elsewhere, Côte d’Ivoire encountered another formidable challenge against Serbia, who controlled proceedings from start to finish in a convincing 97-71 victory.

Serbia established their authority immediately by taking a 24-17 lead after the opening quarter before gradually extending the gap through disciplined execution on both offense and defense. Côte d’Ivoire struggled to slow Serbia’s ball movement and interior dominance, while turnovers allowed the Europeans to generate easy scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Unlike some closely contested games earlier in the tournament, there was never a genuine shift in momentum as Serbia maintained complete control for all 40 minutes.

Nikola Kusturica delivered one of the most complete individual performances of the day for Serbia. The talented forward registered a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding four assists, three steals and three blocked shots. His impact was complemented by Matija Lukic, who knocked down four three-pointers on his way to 16 points, while Luka Galic and Luka Miladinovic made important contributions inside the paint.

Despite the defeat, Côte d’Ivoire found encouragement in another excellent outing from Nathan Djako. The Ivorian guard produced a game-high 27 points, converting four shots from beyond the arc and displaying remarkable composure from the free-throw line. He also collected six rebounds and three steals in a determined effort that highlighted his scoring ability against elite international competition.

Although neither Cameroon nor Côte d’Ivoire managed to secure victories on the final day of group play, both teams demonstrated valuable fighting spirit throughout the tournament. Facing some of the world’s top youth basketball programmes has provided important learning experiences for the young African squads, who have continued to compete with determination despite the challenging opposition.

Cameroon now conclude the group phase with three consecutive defeats after earlier losses to China and Australia, while Côte d’Ivoire finish with one victory and two defeats, having opened their campaign with an impressive win over Venezuela before falling to Australia and Serbia.

As the competition moves into the knockout rounds and classification games, both African nations will be eager to finish their World Cup campaigns on a positive note. The experience gained against elite basketball nations should prove invaluable for the continued development of their young players, many of whom have shown the talent and character to become future leaders of African basketball.

Photography/Imagery : Courtesy of FIBA

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