PRETORIA (South Africa) - Holders Mali have proven the team to beat at the FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket, easily seeing off Cameroon to storm the Final.
Mali won the one-sided match 103-45.
Mama Sidiki Doumbia and Oummou Koumare were, as expected, coach Diakite Sory's ammunition in the fight for both a Final berth and a slot to the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025 in Czechia. The duo combined for 48 points, Rokiatou Berthe adding 12 to the win.
Our biggest target was to qualify for the U19 Women’s World Cup. - Coach Diakite Sory
Two quick transition baskets, all emanating from steals and a trey for Berthe, who had opened the action with a layup, gave Mali a 7-0 lead forcing coach Ange Majolie Lonteu into a timeout as the debutants looked to regroup.
The Central Africans had Damaris Emedie open their account off the free-throw line for 7-2, adding a basket with 4 minutes to play in the period for 15-4.
"We turn our focus to the Final where we can't say we are guaranteed to win, but we will pish for the title. Our biggest target was to qualify for the U19 Women’s World Cup and with that settled, we hope to do better than in other competitions so that preparation starts now," -Coach Diakite Sory.
Mali continued to feast on Cameroon's lacklustre ball handling, pouncing on every opportunity to force turnovers as they pushed the scores for a 26-8 first quarter. In that period alone, Cameroon accumulated 10 turnovers, Mali scoring 12 off their mistakes.
Oumou Dabo got the second quarter going with a layup to see Mali lead by 20 points, a difference that remained at 30-10 with Oummou Koumare and Maimouna Traore contributing to the numbers.
Even as Cameroon struggled to find their footing against the record time champions, Emedie's performance was head and shoulders above the rest. She stayed on the court for 16.46 minutes almost completed what would be her fifth double-double in as many matches, in the first half.
She hit double digits, leading Cameroon with 10 and coming a rebound short of a double-double as her side trailed 14-12 in the quarter to carry a 20-point deficit to the second half.
Mali returned to their first quarter form, hammering the debutants 35-14 to kill all hopes for Cameroon. A 28-11 show in the final quarter sealed the win.
In the end, Emedie still got her double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds but it was not enough to pull her side through, turnovers proving their Achilles heel. Cameroon turned the ball over 38 times and were punished for it, Mali bagging 35 points from those. They also dominated 47-8 in fast breaks.
The holders' transition basketball was on display for all as had 35 assists against the Central Africans' 13. They also led 28-5 in steals.
FIBA