Cote d’Ivoire target perfect start as Nigeria chase turnaround at U18 AfroBasket

The first round of the U18 AfroBasket reaches its conclusion on Sunday, with Cote d’Ivoire hoping to complete the group stage with a 100% record when they take on Nigeria.

The hosts have won both of their opening matches and now face Nigeria in their final game of the first round. A third victory would allow Cote d’Ivoire to finish unbeaten and underline their strong start to the competition.

Nigeria go into the meeting in very different form. They have lost their previous matches and will be aiming to end that run by beating the tournament hosts. While direct qualification may no longer be within their reach, Nigeria can still target one of the two places available to the best third-placed teams.

The meeting between Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria is the headline fixture from Group A as the opening phase draws to a close. The result will determine how the group’s final positions are settled, with the hosts seeking to protect their unbeaten record and Nigeria fighting to keep their hopes alive.

Elsewhere in Group A, Morocco and Gabon will meet in a contest between the teams currently competing for third place. That game is also scheduled for Sunday, with both sides looking to finish the first round in the strongest possible position.

The day’s other major contest comes from Group B, where Mali and Madagascar meet with top spot at stake. Both teams remain unbeaten since the beginning of the competition, setting up a direct battle for supremacy in the group.

The final round of matches therefore brings together contrasting objectives. Cote d’Ivoire are attempting to preserve their perfect record on home soil, while Nigeria are seeking a result that could keep them in contention through the best-third-placed route. Morocco and Gabon, meanwhile, will contest third position in Group A, and Mali and Madagascar will put their unbeaten records on the line in Group B.

Sunday’s U18 AfroBasket schedule is:

– 12:00 – Gabon v Morocco – 14:30 – Egypt v Chad – 17:00 – Nigeria v Cote d’Ivoire – 19:30 – Mali v Madagascar

With the first round ending across Groups A and B, the four fixtures will decide the final standings in the two sections. The clash between Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria carries particular significance because of the hosts’ bid to finish unbeaten and Nigeria’s need to recover from their run of defeats. The later meeting between Mali and Madagascar offers a separate unbeaten-versus-unbeaten contest, while Gabon and Morocco compete for third place and Egypt face Chad in the day’s remaining fixture.