Madagascar U18
Gabon U18
Madagascar U18 edged Gabon U18 68-65 on the opening day of the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026, with Abdoul Yvan Hanaffi sinking a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
The first quarter was a tight affair, with Madagascar edging ahead 19-17. Gabon seized control in the second period, outscoring Madagascar 20-8 to take a 37-27 lead into the half — a 10-point advantage that grew to 12 early in the third quarter.
Madagascar emerged from the break a different side. They tightened their defence and cut Gabon's lead with a 24-11 third-quarter surge, flipping the deficit into a 51-48 advantage heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter swung back and forth, with 12 lead changes and 13 ties across the game, before the decisive final play.
With the score locked at 65-65 and time expiring, Hanaffi rose from beyond the arc and buried the buzzer-beater to seal Madagascar's victory.
The turning point
Madagascar head coach Tojo Hery Rasamoelina identified the halftime adjustments as the catalyst. "We were chasing the score throughout the match. We tried to change our game a bit and be more aggressive on defense," he told FIBA. "We focused our organization around the ball, since they relied on just a few key players for scoring."
The defensive shift worked. After allowing 20 points in the second quarter, Madagascar held Gabon to 11 in the third, forcing Gabon into contested looks and turnovers that fuelled the comeback.
Key performers
Harinosy A'Ranty Rasetriarivony (Madagascar) — 25 points, 10 assists, 32 efficiency rating. The point guard orchestrated the second-half revival and finished with a double-double, controlling pace and finding teammates in transition. He was named player of the match.
Abdoul Yvan Hanaffi (Madagascar) — The hero of the hour. His buzzer-beating three-pointer decided a game that seemed destined for overtime.
Daryll Georges Mbiguis (Gabon) — A game-high 27 points on 5-for-10 shooting from three-point range. The shooting guard carried Gabon's offence but struggled to maintain his rhythm in the second half while tasked with defending Rasetriarivony on the other end.
By the numbers — interpreted
Madagascar shot just 15% from three-point range (compared to Gabon's 24%) and only 45% from the free-throw line — numbers that would normally spell defeat. They compensated with superior two-point shooting (43.9% to Gabon's 30.8%) and a decisive third-quarter response. Gabon led for 21:44 of game time to Madagascar's 12:23, but the final scoreboard told the only story that matters. The 12 lead changes and 13 ties underline how evenly matched the sides were across 40 minutes.
What it means
Madagascar opened their Group B campaign with a win, while Gabon fell to 0-1. Both sides then faced defending champions Mali: Gabon lost 113-37 on August 7, and Madagascar fell 53-44 on August 9. The group-stage results left Mali top of Group B (2-0), with Madagascar (1-1) and Gabon (0-2) behind.
Gabon head coach Ylaurich Bertrand Ondo Zogo took a long view after the loss: "We made mistakes — specifically regarding boxing out and turnovers — that the other team managed to capitalise on. We need to regroup, tighten things up a bit, and come back stronger for the next match."
Verdict
A classic tournament opener decided by a single shot. Madagascar showed resilience in erasing a double-digit deficit, but their poor free-throw shooting and reliance on heroics are concerns Gabon will rue missing a golden chance to start their campaign with a win.
Game details
- FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 — Group B
- Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- Attendance: 150
- Referees: Vianney Alvin Jean Marie Diop (CIV), Samuel Nuhu (NGR), Khadija Akaskous (MAR)
- Technical delegate: Kodri Adechi
- Quarter scores: 19-17, 8-20, 24-11, 17-17 (68-65 FT)
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 16 Aug 2026