AfroBasket 2025 Final: Nigeria faces Mali in showdown for title, World Cup spot

Nigeria will face Mali in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket on Sunday, August 3, at the Palais des Sports Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The match is scheduled to tip off at 7 PM Nigerian time and will be broadcast live on DAZN and StarTimes Sports channels.

This year’s final renews one of African women’s basketball’s biggest rivalries. Since 2011, Nigeria and Mali have met six times at the tournament, with each team winning three games.

Their most recent encounter was the 2021 final, where Nigeria triumphed 70–59 to claim their third consecutive AfroBasket title. Eight players from each team who played in that final are back on the court this year, adding more weight to an already intense matchup.

Nigeria reached the final after topping Group D, defeating Cameroon in the quarterfinals, and edging Senegal 75–68 in a tight semifinal clash.

Mali, on the other hand, remained unbeaten in Group B before cruising past Cameroon and South Sudan in the knockout stages.

Statistically, Nigeria enters the final as the tournament’s highest-scoring team, averaging 77.5 points per game.

Mali, however, leads in rebounds with 48.5 per game and assists with 22 per game. Nigeria also holds the advantage in shooting accuracy, both from the field and from three-point range.

On the court, several standout players will be key to their teams’ success. Amy Okonkwo leads Nigeria in scoring with an average of 12.8 points per game, while Ezinne Kalu has played a crucial role on both offense and defense.

For Mali, Djeneba N’Diaye is the top scorer, averaging 12.5 points per game, and Sika Koné has dominated in the paint with 10.5 rebounds per game and two double-doubles so far.

Beyond the AfroBasket title, Sunday’s match holds even more significance.

The winner will earn automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. Other high-ranking teams will compete in the global qualifying tournaments scheduled for March 2026.

With history, pride, and a World Cup ticket on the line, the Nigeria vs Mali final promises to be a defining moment in African women’s basketball.