English 
German The Crown stays in Abidjan: Côte d’Ivoire Overpowers Senegal to claim Men’s U18 Afrobasket Gold
The Crown Stays in Abidjan: Côte d’Ivoire Overpowers Senegal to Claim Men’s U18 AfroBasket GoldABIDJAN — The roof nearly blew off the Palais des Sports de Treichville.
In a ferocious, winner take all battle for continental supremacy, Côte d’Ivoire defeated Senegal 73–51 on Sunday night to officially capture the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AfroBasket championship. Backed by a deafening hometown crowd, the relentless Éléphanteaux rode a wave of second-half momentum to leave no doubt as to who rules African youth basketball.
Fourteen years ago in Maputo, it was Senegal who broke Ivorian hearts, walking away with a 71–62 victory in the final. But last night belonged entirely to the hosts, who rode a wave of unstoppable second half momentum to secure an undefeated 6–0 tournament run.
How the Final Was Won
The game began as a gritty, defensive tug of war, with both teams feeling the immense weight of the gold medal on the line. Senegal’s physical presence forced heavy battles in the paint early on. However, Côte d’Ivoire managed to weaponize their backcourt depth, chipping away at the Senegalese defense to build a hard-fought 34–24 lead at halftime.
When the third quarter commenced, Senegal threatened a comeback behind a brief offensive surge. But Côte d’Ivoire’s bench depth turned out to be the ultimate game changer. Led by a masterclass performance from tournament standout Nathan Djako, the tournament hosts unleashed a devastating perimeter onslaught. They blew the game wide open, turning a tense tactical battle into a 73–51 runaway celebration by the final buzzer.
While Côte d’Ivoire lifts the trophy on home soil, the journey is just beginning for both the gold and silver medalists. By securing their spots in the final, both Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal have officially qualified to represent Africa at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
About Author
