Côte d’Ivoire Stun Mali to End an Era at the FIBA U16 Women’s AfroBasket

For the first time in the history of the FIBA U16 Women’s AfroBasket, the trophy will not be heading to Mali. On Saturday, September 13, inside the Petit Stade Gymnasium in Kigali, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire shocked the basketball world by knocking out the eight-time champions with a gritty 45–40 semifinal win.

The result not only ended Mali’s long-standing dominance but also secured Côte d’Ivoire’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIBA U16 Women’s Basketball World Cup in the Czech Republic.

This was a matchup that many believed Mali would control with ease. After all, just a week earlier, the defending champions had dismantled the Ivorians 65–38 in the group stage. Instead, Côte d’Ivoire returned to the floor with a different mindset, fueled by belief, defensive discipline, and a determination to make history.

The game’s defining moment came in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 31–31, Lalya Diarisso hit a clutch long two-pointer, quickly followed by a deep three from Gnomon Koné. That five-point burst tilted the balance firmly in Côte d’Ivoire’s favor, forcing Mali to play catch-up.

Mali’s guard Yahe Bagayoko briefly tied the game at 36–36 with five minutes to play, but Côte d’Ivoire refused to panic. Instead, they responded with an aggressive 7–0 run, showcasing both defensive resilience and timely execution on offense. From that point forward, the Ivorians never relinquished control.

Côte d’Ivoire’s triumph wasn’t built on one star performance but instead on a collective effort. Jane Diomande and Maëlhis N’Dri led the scoring with nine points each. At the same time, Fatima Konaté came off the bench to make a crucial contribution, hitting both of her three-point attempts. That balance of production kept Mali guessing and prevented them from locking in defensively on a single player.

Equally impressive was Côte d’Ivoire’s rebounding dominance. They grabbed 61 boards compared to Mali’s 50, ensuring that the defending champions rarely got second chances. Add to that the Ivorians’ 11 assists and relentless defensive pressure that forced 32 turnovers, and the statistics tell the story of a team that outworked their opponents. The benches were another major difference-maker: Côte d’Ivoire’s reserves scored 24 points, while Mali’s managed just three.

For Mali, this loss represents the end of an extraordinary era. Since the tournament’s inception in 2009, Mali has won every single edition, stringing together a 30–1 record dating back to 2015. Their last defeat came in 2021 against Egypt, but even then, they recovered to win the title. This time, however, there will be no redemption game for gold. Instead, Mali must regroup and fight for a podium finish.

Captain Mariya Diawara admitted after the game that her team struggled to adapt:

“We did not play how we usually play. They had good zone defense, and we couldn’t score or attack anymore. We still have one game left, so we’ll regroup and try to win third place.”

For Côte d’Ivoire, the win signals the start of something new. Captain Ella Koné reflected on the magnitude of the achievement:

“It’s our first time at the Women’s U16 AfroBasket, and we’ve taken down the reigning champions. Being qualified for the World Cup means so much. We stayed united, played more calmly, and shared the ball more. Now we’ll go back home and prepare for the world stage.”

Saturday’s game will be remembered not just as an upset but as the day Côte d’Ivoire rewrote African youth basketball history. Mali’s dynasty may have ended, but a new contender has emerged, proving once again that in basketball, it’s not how you start — it’s how you finish.

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[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]