The J’Tigers, Nigeria’s Under-18 Men’s Basketball team, are out of the 2024 Afrobasket U-18 Championship after losing 81-70 to Mali in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
The Malians, who fought their Nigerian opponents from the start, won the first quarter 23-19 and lead by 40-38 at halftime.
Mali ultimately won the game, which was contested in Pretoria, South Africa, despite the J’Tigers’ best efforts to seize control.
To reach this level, the Junior D’Tigers overcame Uganda 72-61 on Tuesday, while Mali upset Ivory Coast 73-69.
The championship winners and runners-up will advance to the FIBA World Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, the J’Tigress advanced to the semi-finals on Wednesday, defeating Egypt 61-56 in the quarterfinals.
According to the Nigerian News Agency, the outcome means that the Nigerian ladies will meet Uganda in the semi-finals on Friday night.
The Rwanda Under 18 men’s national team also withdrew from the FIBA AfroBasket 2024.
This came after they suffered a shocking 53-67 quarterfinal loss to Cameroon at the University of Pretoria Gymnasium on Thursday.
Rwanda started well, winning the first quarter 16-14, until Cameroon stepped up and won the second quarter 22-16 to lead 36-32 at halftime.
Rwanda rallied in the second half, winning the third quarter 17-15, but Cameroon dominated the final quarter 16-4 to send them home.
The result meant that Cameroon advanced to the semifinals.
Despite struggling to shoot from the floor, Cameroon’s Amadou Seini led the team with 15 points and 23 rebounds, while Hermann Bel Daryl Bay added 15 points.
Dylan Kayijuka of Rwanda scored 19 points, while Sean Mwesigwa added 12.