Women’s AfroBasket | Saturday Fixtures | East African Time
- 7th Place: Cote d’Ivoire vs. Uganda – 3:00 pm
- 5th Place: Cameroon vs. Mozambique – 6:00 pm
- Semifinal: Senegal vs. Nigeria – 9:00 pm
- Semifinal: Mali vs. South Sudan – 12:00 Midnight
South Sudan started their 2025 Women’s AfroBasket tournament with two close defeats to seasoned campaigners Mali and Cameroon, dropping them to a qualifier for the quarterfinals.
It has been history since with every victory taking Bright Starlets to a new achievement. Victory over Egypt and Uganda meant South Sudan reached the quarter and semifinals for the first time. Reaching the AfroBasket semifinals also meant South Sudan secured their place in next year’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.
And now, a new high could be achieved on Saturday night when they face Mali again in the semifinals in a packed-to-capacity Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
If their Group stage 55-53 showdown is anything to go by, tonight’s meeting promises to be another thriller.
However, since that opening day scare, Mali has played like a championship-calibre team, seeing off the 2021 bronze medalists, Cameroon, 75–49, to advance directly to the quarterfinals and Mozambique, 86–68, to reach the semifinals.
Statistically, Mali have been better, averaging 72 points per game while converting about 41% of their shots. They have also shared the ball better, with about 22 assists a game.
It is no surprise that South Sudan dominates the glass with 51 boards per game, which is a tournament best.
The Bright Starlets’ coach, Alberto Antuna, will be banking on Maria Teresa Gakdeng, Delicia Washington, Nyamer Lual Diew, and Rose Akon Macuei while hoping Adut Bulgak keeps a calm head throughout the contest that will most likely to be physical.
Meanwhile, Mali will be looking to Washington Mystics forward Sika Koné, as well as Djeneba N’Diaye and Alima Dembele with Rokia Doumbia directing traffic.
