Double Triumph for Senegal in Abidjan as Lionceaux Storm Semis and Lioncelles Claim 9th Spot

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — It was a historic Thursday at the Salle Polyvalente in Treichville. Senegal’s youth basketball took center stage as both the U18 Men’s and Women’s national teams delivered masterclass performances to keep the green, yellow, and red flag flying high across Africa.

Lionceaux Subdue Madagascar to Claim Semi-Final Ticket (54-40)Our U18 Men’s national team, the Lionceaux, officially booked their ticket to the semi-finals of the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 after wearing down a resilient Malagasy side.

Guided by head coach Mouhamed Sene, Senegal utilized their clear athletic superiority and physical length to establish dominance early on, wrapping up the first quarter with a 15-9 lead. However, Madagascar threw a tactical spanner into the works during the second period. Deploying a suffocating zone defense, they slowed down the game’s tempo and disrupted Senegal’s offensive fluidity, leaving our boys ahead by just two points at halftime (23-21).

The Turnaround

Whatever Coach Sene said in the locker room worked wonders. The Lionceaux emerged for the second half playing at a completely different defensive gear. Senegal unleashed a furious defensive press that forced a staggering 29 turnovers from Madagascar across the entire game. A devastating 18-4 scoring blitz in the third quarter effectively broke Madagascar’s spirit. With 15 team steals and 8 blocks, the defense anchored a comfortable 54-40 final scoreline.

Codé Mbengue’s Monster Double-Double

The indisputable hero of the day was Codé Mbengue. The young center put on a legendary, multi-dimensional performance to secure the MVP honor, recording a jaw-dropping stat line:19 Points, 13 Rebounds, 5 Interceptions, 5 Blocks,38 Performance Efficiency Rating.

Pape Moussa Diallo provided excellent secondary scoring, chipping in 11 points to steady the ship.

What’s Next: The Lionceaux have set up an explosive, highly anticipated 100% West African semifinal derby against arch-rivals Mali.

Lioncelles Evaporate Morocco to Finish 9th Overall (58-28)

Earlier in the day, the U18 Women’s national team, the Lioncelles, ensured they finished their continental campaign on a high note by completely demolishing Morocco 58-28 in the 9th-10th place classification final.

After a heartbreakingly difficult group stage that included an agonizing one-point loss to Tunisia, the young Lioncelles showed immense pride and mental toughness. Coming off a morale-boosting victory over Benin (66-39), Senegal left absolutely no room for doubt against the Atlas Lionesses.

Defensive Masterclass

The Senegalese women suffocated the Moroccan offense right from the opening tip-off. An overwhelming 24-4 run in the first quarter quickly turned the game into a one-sided affair. While Morocco attempted to slow the bleeding in the second frame, the Lioncelles stepped on the gas right after the interval with a dominant 20-5 third-quarter run.

Mendy and Sall Orchestrate the Rout

The standout performer of the game was Alyssa Mendy, who earned well-deserved MVP honors after flirting with a triple-double. She orchestrated the floor brilliantly, logging: 14 Points, 10 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 4 Interceptions, She was heavily supported by Fatou Binetou Sall, who dominated the interior to finish as the game’s top scorer with 16 points. While a 9th-place finish is not where Senegalese basketball traditionally aspires to be, the resilience, growth, and back-to-back dominant wins by this young roster offer a solid foundation to build upon for the 2028 tournament cycles.

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