Hosts Côte d'Ivoire opened the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 with a commanding 104-51 victory over Chad in Abidjan, combining relentless defense, balanced scoring and remarkable depth to seize early control of Group A on Wednesday.
Last Updated on
August 7, 2026
Côte d'Ivoire laid down an early marker at the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026, cruising to a convincing 104-51 victory over Chad on Wednesday at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in the opening Group A contest. Backed by an enthusiastic home crowd, the Ivorians dominated from the opening tip, delivering a complete performance built on defensive intensity, unselfish offense and impressive squad depth.
The outcome was never seriously in doubt after Côte d'Ivoire established control in the opening quarter. The hosts raced to a 31-14 lead after the first 10 minutes before extending their advantage to 55-26 at halftime. Chad struggled to match Côte d'Ivoire's energy on both ends of the floor, and the gap continued to widen after the break as the Ivorians conceded just eight points in the third quarter.
More than the final score, it was the manner of the victory that underlined Côte d'Ivoire's ambitions. The hosts moved the ball with confidence, defended every possession aggressively and maintained the same intensity regardless of the personnel on the court. Six players finished in double figures, illustrating the balance that could prove one of the team's greatest strengths throughout the tournament.
Karl-Randell Kouame-Zeze and Nathan Djako led the way with 19 points apiece. Kouame-Zeze buried three shots from beyond the arc and shot 8-for-12 from the field, while Djako was equally efficient, connecting on seven of his nine attempts, including a pair of three-pointers.
Jason Ake quietly produced one of the game's most influential performances. The floor general finished with 10 points, a game-high nine assists and seven rebounds, controlling the tempo from start to finish while repeatedly creating easy scoring opportunities for his teammates.
The hosts also received valuable contributions from the rest of the rotation. Deh-Dimitri Azema scored 13 points in just over 13 minutes, Jean-Philippe Oka added 11 points and five rebounds, and Bryan Lionel N'goli chipped in 10 points as Côte d'Ivoire's depth overwhelmed a Chad side that struggled to find consistent answers.
While the offense operated with efficiency, the defensive effort ultimately set Côte d'Ivoire apart.
The Ivorians forced 18 turnovers and came away with an impressive 22 steals, disrupting Chad's offensive rhythm throughout the contest. Those defensive stops quickly turned into offense, with the hosts scoring 51 points off turnovers and adding another 47 on the fast break. Every mistake committed by Chad seemed to trigger another Côte d'Ivoire scoring opportunity.
The dominance extended to the rebounding battle. Côte d'Ivoire outrebounded Chad 50-39, including 25 offensive rebounds that repeatedly earned second possessions and prevented the visitors from building any sustained momentum. The hosts also received a significant lift from their bench, which outscored Chad's reserves 48-10.
For Chad, Ngaba Yaya emerged as the standout performer with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds to record the contest's lone double-double. Mahamat Aka Ousmane added 11 points, but the visitors found little offensive consistency against Côte d'Ivoire's relentless defensive pressure.
Junior Djibrine battled hard inside, finishing with five points, eight rebounds and four assists, but he also committed 10 turnovers under constant pressure from the Ivorian defense. Overall, Chad finished with 21 turnovers compared to just 10 assists while shooting 36.2 percent from the field, numbers that reflected the difficulties they encountered throughout the evening.
Opening games can often bring added pressure for the hosts, but Côte d'Ivoire looked composed from the outset. Confident with the ball, disciplined defensively and willing to share the scoring load, the Ivorians delivered the type of all-around performance that immediately establishes them among the early teams to watch in the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026.
For Chad, the defeat offers little time for reflection, with the team needing a swift response to keep its hopes alive in Group A. Côte d'Ivoire, meanwhile, could hardly have wished for a stronger start as it begins its quest for continental glory on home soil.
