Kenya U18 W vs Ivory Coast U18 W

Côte d'Ivoire's 12-0 scoring run in the third quarter broke any remaining Kenyan resistance. Having led by 13 at the break, the hosts returned from the locker room with a defensive intensity that Kenya could not match, forcing a scoring drought that stretched deep into the period. The run effectively ended the contest before the fourth quarter began.

Marlyne Esther Adahe (CIV) — The tournament's game-high scorer with 19 points. Adahe was the offensive catalyst throughout, finishing efficiently inside and out as Côte d'Ivoire shot 37.5% from three-point range compared to Kenya's 7.1%.

Angelina Adhiambo Agiki (KEN) — Kenya's leading scorer with 7 points in a losing effort. She battled hard against a deeper Ivorian roster but found limited support as her team shot just 21% from the field.

Player of the Match: Marlyne Esther Adahe (Ivory Coast U18 W)

The 38-point margin reflected a gulf in offensive efficiency that the box score makes plain. Côte d'Ivoire shot 34% from the field and a sharp 37.5% from three, while Kenya managed only 21% overall and 7.1% (1-of-14) from beyond the arc. The Ivorians also controlled the interior, converting 33.3% of two-point attempts compared to Kenya's 26.5%.

Côte d'Ivoire's biggest lead stretched to 38 points, and they led for 38 minutes and 16 seconds of game time. Kenya held the lead for just 15 seconds — a brief 4-0 advantage early in the first quarter before the hosts took control.

Côte d'Ivoire completed Group A with a perfect 3-0 record, having defeated the Central African Republic 102-13, Uganda 80-44, and Kenya 66-28. The hosts advanced to the quarter-finals as group winners and faced Tunisia, a team they historically matched up well against on home soil.

Kenya finished third in Group A at 1-2. Despite the heavy loss, their earlier 74-36 win over the Central African Republic was enough to qualify as one of the two best third-place finishers across all three groups. They advanced to face defending champions Mali in the quarter-finals.

The top two teams at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket earn qualification for the 2027 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in China.

Côte d'Ivoire's depth, home-court advantage and stifling defence make them one of the tournament's most dangerous sides. For Kenya, the final group scoreline was a harsh reality check after their bounce-back win over CAR, but reaching the knockout phase was itself a meaningful achievement against one of Africa's traditional youth basketball powers.