Tunisia U18 W vs Nigeria U18 W

Tunisia started the brighter side, taking the first quarter 15–13 behind efficient early offence. Orane Chantal Akila Tlemcani — Tunisia's leading scorer in the tournament — provided the early spark.

Nigeria found their rhythm in the second quarter. Favour Joy Anari, the team's engine at both ends, helped Nigeria outscore Tunisia 14–10 in the period, and the teams went into the half locked at 27–27.

The third quarter saw the game's most explosive offence. Tunisia dropped 19 points — their highest of any quarter — to seize a 46–43 advantage heading into the final frame. At that point they had shot a creditable 31.6% from three-point range, keeping Nigeria's defence honest.

But the fourth quarter belonged entirely to Nigeria. Tunisia managed only six points in the final ten minutes while Nigeria ground out 11, anchored by Anari's composure and a defence that forced tough looks. Nigeria shot 71.4% from the free-throw line for the game (compared to Tunisia's 56%), a margin that proved decisive in a contest decided by four points.

Tunisia led 46–43 entering Q4, but Nigeria opened the final period with a 9–0 run that flipped the game entirely. The run came from defensive pressure — Tunisia failed to score from the field for the first five minutes of the quarter, and Nigeria turned those stops into transition opportunities. Tunisia never recovered, managing just a single basket and free throws in the period's final minutes.

Favour Joy Anari (Nigeria) — The tournament's standout all-round performer finished as Nigeria's top scorer in this game with 14 points, adding five assists and multiple steals. Anari went on to average 12.8 points, 5.6 assists and 6.0 steals per game across the tournament. She earned player-of-the-match honours.

Orane Chantal Akila Tlemcani (Tunisia) — Led her team with 11 points, showing good movement off the ball and efficiency around the rim. She was Tunisia's most consistent offensive threat throughout.

Zainab Adelaja (Nigeria) — Dominated the glass with seven rebounds, giving Nigeria crucial second-chance opportunities. Her tournament average of 7.8 rebounds per game underlined her value on the boards.

Nigeria's 24% field-goal shooting (vs Tunisia's 31%) would typically spell defeat, but the match was won at the free-throw line and on the glass. Nigeria shot 71.4% from the stripe to Tunisia's 56%, a 15-point efficiency gap that erased their shooting disadvantage. A 9–0 fourth-quarter scoring run — Nigeria's biggest of the game — swung the lead tracker decisively; Nigeria led for 20:39 of game time to Tunisia's 16:48.

Tunisia shot 31.6% from three-point range (their best weapon on the night) but managed only 30% on two-point attempts, suggesting Nigeria's interior defence was the real difference-maker.

This Group Phase result set Nigeria on a path to the final. They went on to win four of five games in the tournament, culminating in a championship match against Mali on 16 August 2026. Both Nigeria and Mali secured qualification for the 2027 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup through their performances. For Tunisia, the loss sent them into the classification bracket, where they played Cameroon (Classification 5–8) and later Egypt (Classification 5–6).

Nigeria's fourth-quarter resolve masked an off shooting night, proving they could win ugly against disciplined opposition. Anari's two-way contribution marked her as a tournament-defining talent. Tunisia will rue a Q4 collapse that undid three quarters of competitive basketball, but the base of a competitive side is there.

Sources: FIBA official game page (fiba.basketball), FIBA team profiles, provider match data.