Chad U18 vs Nigeria U18

Both sides entered needing a win to keep quarter-final hopes alive, and the tension showed. Nigeria edged a cautious first quarter 12-11, with neither team able to find offensive rhythm. Chad shot just 24.1% from two-point range for the game; Nigeria managed a meagre 17.5%.

Chad seized control in the second period. A three-pointer from Junior Djibrine gave them a 29-23 halftime lead, after an 18-11 quarter that flipped the game's momentum entirely.

The lead grew to double figures early in the third quarter as Chad opened with a 6-2 run, forcing a Nigeria timeout. Nigeria never recovered their offensive flow — Victor Endurance Sunday (22 points, 10 rebounds) was largely a solo act for a Nigeria side that shot 17.4% from three-point range.

With 2:45 remaining and Chad leading 54-42, Ngaba Yaya fouled out. Nigeria sensed an opportunity and cut into the deficit, but Chad's defence held firm. Timothee Ndohoudou (15 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) stepped up to steady the ship in Yaya's absence, and Chad saw out the 59-50 win.

• Ngaba Yaya (CHA) — 15 PTS, 21 REB, 3 AST, 4 BLK. The tournament's early efficiency leader (24.7 EFF per game across the group phase) set a new U18 AfroBasket record with 21 rebounds. Player of the Match.
• Junior Djibrine (CHA) — 17 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST. The game's leading scorer, his second-quarter three-pointer gave Chad a lead they never surrendered.
• Timothee Ndohoudou (CHA) — 15 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST. A near-triple-double performance, including crucial ball-handling after Yaya fouled out.
• Victor Endurance Sunday (NGR) — 22 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST. A lone bright spot for Nigeria, leading all scorers while shouldering a heavy load.

The box score tells a story of defensive intensity over offensive execution. Chad shot 24.1% on two-pointers and 28% from three, while Nigeria were even colder at 17.5% and 17.4% respectively. Free-throw shooting was the one category Nigeria led (66.7% to 60%), but on limited attempts. Chad controlled the game for 30:52 of clock time to Nigeria's 6:27, reflecting their sustained edge in paint presence and second-chance opportunities through Yaya's rebounding dominance.

Chad improved to 1-1 in Group A, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive after the opening defeat to Côte d'Ivoire. Nigeria dropped to 0-2 following their 95-68 loss to Egypt, and with just seven available players due to squad depth issues, their path to the knockout rounds became extremely narrow. Nigeria ultimately exited the group stage winless and moved to classification games, finishing 10th overall in the tournament. Chad advanced to the quarter-finals, where they fell to Cameroon 77-49, and eventually finished 8th.

This was a game determined by composure and physicality. Chad, led by Noubaramadje's disciplined game plan, withstood Nigeria's best push and executed when it mattered. Yaya's record-setting rebounding display anchored a defence that held Nigeria to just 18% field-goal shooting — a performance that announced Chad as a competitive force in African U18 basketball, even if the tournament ultimately ended in the quarter-finals.