Monday, September 8 Rwanda 46-58 Tunisia Rwanda's unbeaten run at the FIBA U16 girls ' AfroBasket was ended by Tunisia who beat them 58-46 in their last game of the group stage which took place at Petit Stade in Kigali on Monday, September 8. The hosts, however, finished top of Group A, having won the opening game against Tanzania (60-41). Led by Rihem Omri and Ghazal Ayari, Tunisia had to dig deep to overcome a spirited Rwandan side backed by a loud home crowd. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Tunisia truly pulled ahead, securing a vital Group A victory. Rwanda, who came into the game with momentum from their win over Tanzania, looked eager to continue their winning streak. However, they came up against a determined North African team for whom the word 'quit' does not exist. ALSO READ: FIBA U16 Afrobasket: Ndaruhutse drop 17 points as Rwanda beat Tanzania The contest began at a furious pace. Neither side managed to pull ahead, and by the midway point of the first quarter, the score was tied at 6–6 before Rwanda a narrow 13–10 lead at the end of the quarter. However, Tunisia refused to fade and fought back to take a slender half-time lead at 26-25. The game remained tight throughout the third quarter, with Rwanda managing to maintain a one-point lead (42–41) going into the final stretch. That’s when Tunisia turned the tide. Their defence stepped up, racking up four blocks and 14 defensive rebounds in the last ten minutes. Equally importantly, they protected the ball, committing only seven turnovers compared to Rwanda’s 10. A decisive 16–5 run in the fourth quarter broke the game wide open, leaving the hosts unable to respond. The final score of 58–46 reflected Tunisia’s resilience, but also highlighted their difficulties. The winners only converted 4 of their 13 free throws and 2 of their 27 three-point attempts. Ghazal Ayari (10 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks) and Rimh Omri (14 points and 13 rebounds) both achieved double-doubles, providing Tunisia with crucial support at pivotal moments. Ayari’s presence in the paint, particularly her four blocks in the fourth quarter, proved decisive. Tunisia, Rwanda and Tanzania all finished the group campaign with one win and one loss, but Tunisia and Rwanda progressed to the quarter-finals due to their higher point differential.
