The first round of the AfroBasket U18 reaches its conclusion on Sunday, with Groups A and B set to be decided.
The day’s main contest sees host nation Cote d’Ivoire take on Nigeria, with the hosts aiming to complete the opening phase of the competition with a perfect record.
Cote d’Ivoire have won both of their matches so far and will be seeking a third successive victory when they meet Nigeria in the final round of the first stage. The hosts face a significant challenge against a Nigeria side determined to end its run of defeats by overcoming the tournament hosts.
Nigeria are yet to record a win in the competition and will be hoping to claim a major result against Cote d’Ivoire. If they cannot secure direct qualification, Nigeria could still target one of the two qualification places reserved for the best third-placed teams.
The fixture is the headline meeting involving Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday, as the host nation looks to maintain its unbeaten start while Nigeria attempts to keep its qualification hopes alive.
Mali and Madagascar contest Group B lead
The other major fixture of the day comes in Group B, where Mali and Madagascar meet in a battle for first place.
Both teams have remained unbeaten since the beginning of the competition, setting up a direct contest for supremacy in the group. Their meeting will bring the group-stage programme to a close for the two sides and determine which team finishes in the stronger position.
Elsewhere, Gabon face Morocco in a Group A fixture. The two teams will play their third match in the group as the first round draws to an end.
Egypt and Chad are also scheduled to meet on Sunday, completing the day’s programme alongside the two headline matches involving Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Mali and Madagascar.
The matches will take place at the following times:
– 12:00: Gabon v Morocco
– 14:30: Egypt v Chad
– 17:00: Nigeria v Cote d’Ivoire
– 19:30: Mali v Madagascar
The results will settle the remaining issues in Groups A and B as the AfroBasket U18 moves beyond its opening round. Cote d’Ivoire will be aiming to preserve its unbeaten record on home soil, while Nigeria will look to revive its campaign and challenge for qualification as one of the best third-placed teams if direct passage is unavailable.
