U16 Afrobasket Women: Mali Dominates Guinea 76-32, Secures Quarterfinal Spot

Mali Dominates Guinea 76-32, Secures Quarterfinal Spot

The scoreline tells part of the story, but Mali's defensive stranglehold revealed everything about their identity. Guinea never scored more than nine points in a quarter after the opening frame, as Mali smothered every possession with relentless ball pressure. The Junior Lionesses unleashed a 19-0 run that ripped the game open, effectively burying Guinea's hopes before halftime.

While the champions struggled with shooting percentages, they leaned on hustle, execution, and transition play to build separation. Mali shot just 27% overall and 24% from long range, but their edge in every other statistical category proved decisive.

The defensive effort bordered on suffocating as Mali forced Guinea into an embarrassing 52 turnovers. Those giveaways translated into 40 points, fueling breakneck transition play that Guinea couldn't handle. The defending champions tallied 36 steals, one of the most absurd single-game totals seen this tournament.

Mali's offensive production came from all over the floor (except for clinical shooting), with depth once again separating them from their opponents. They racked up 25 fast break points, 18 second chance opportunities and 36 points inside the paint to overwhelm Guinea. The bench delivered 28 points, a figure Guinea's reserves could only dream about as they mustered just six.

Rebounding was the one oddity in a night dominated by the defending champions. Guinea edged the glass 61-60 despite being completely outclassed in every other area of play. That lone bright spot felt more like trivia than triumph, considering how Mali dictated tempo and punished every mistake.

Individual performances once again carried Mali's identity of collective greatness rather than selfish stat-padding. Aichata Keita led the charge with 18 points, seven assists and five steals while controlling the pace. Napily Issa Traoré added 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals in another assertive outing.

Ami Setou Kantao provided a two-way balance with 11 points, five boards and six steals, while Mariya Diawara matched her scoring. Diawara's eight steals highlighted how Mali's wings completely disrupted Guinea's perimeter rhythm. Together, those four headliners set the tone for a group still chasing a ninth straight continental title.

Guinea showed brief resistance early with a 12-point opening quarter, but the energy quickly collapsed against Mali's iron wall. The defending champions tightened rotations and held Guinea to four points in the second quarter, erasing suspense. From that point, it was less a competition and more a showcase of discipline, stamina and identity.

Even when shooting deserted them, the young Malians trusted their defense, passing and hustle to pull through. They handed out 20 team assists, another testament to how this program values sharing the ball over empty isolations.

Guinea, meanwhile, saw their campaign unravel with turnovers and missed opportunities, confirming just how difficult it is to challenge Mali's empire. The 76-32 scoreline looked harsh but felt accurate considering the sheer mismatch in execution.

With this victory, Mali remains the overwhelming favorite heading into the knockout stages. West Africans appear poised to extend a youth dynasty, driven by young stars who take on the responsibility of maintaining national dominance. Their latest demolition of Guinea only reinforced that reality.

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[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]