FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2026: The Éléphantes Crush the Central African Republic for a Flawless Start
Côte d’Ivoire could not have dreamed of a better start to the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2026. Playing in front of their home crowd at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, the Éléphantes overwhelmingly defeated the Central African Republic 102–13, kicking off their continental campaign with an impressive collective display.
Right from the opening tip-off, the Ivoirian team imposed a relentless pace, completely smothering their opponents with aggressive defense and an efficient transition game. The Central Africans never found solutions against the intensity of Thoms N’DA’s squad, who dominated all four quarters.
A Collective Masterclass
The Ivoirian selection showcased remarkable bench depth, with multiple players finishing in double figures.
Marlyne Esther Adahe led the charge with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 steals, recording the highest efficiency rating of the match (29).
Fatima Diouf: 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 steals.
Françoise Hawa Kaba: 15 points, 7 assists, and 10 steals, proving omnipresent on both ends of the floor.
Ramatou Dissa: 12 points and 11 rebounds, securing a solid double-double.
Jane Mary Diomandé: 11 points on 5/9 shooting.
Maëlys N’dri and Maëlys Shana Zoé Roua: 7 points each.
Ivoirian dominance was further highlighted by a suffocating full-court pressure that forced 33 turnovers from the Central Africans, easily converting them into quick transition baskets.
A Ruthless Defense
While the offense shined, it was the Ivoirian defense that truly left a mark.
The Central African Republic was held to just 13 points, struggling with abysmal shooting percentages:
3/35 from the field (8.6%)
0/3 from three-point range
7/12 from the free-throw line
No Central African player reached the five-point mark. Their leading scorer, Verdiane Editha Lenguendiat, was limited to 4 points, while Divine Claudette Ipende chipped in 3 units.
The Éléphantes capitalized on constant steals, fast breaks, and forced turnovers, never allowing their opponent to get into the flow of the game.