Chad Defeats Nigeria 59-50 in U18 AfroBasket Clash

In the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket tournament, Chad achieved its first victory by defeating Nigeria 59-50 on Friday during the group stage. The match was characterized by a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to find scoring opportunities.

Chad ended the first quarter trailing 11-12 but took the lead in the second quarter, thanks to Djibrine's three-pointer, leading 29-23 at halftime. Chad extended its lead in the third quarter, prompting Nigeria to call a timeout.

Victor Sunday was the standout player for Nigeria, scoring a game-high 22 points, along with 10 rebounds and three assists. For Chad, Djibrine scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while Ndohoudou Timothee contributed 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.

YAYA Ngaba, the team captain, recorded a tournament-high 21 rebounds and 15 points before being disqualified with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter due to fouls. Head coach Asnal Noubaramadje praised his team's resilience as they kept their quarter-final hopes alive.