Mali's women and Nigeria's men win FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2017

5 Nov 2017

LOME (FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2017) - Mali’s women and Nigeria’s men made history after winning the first-ever edition of the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup in Lomé, Togo on November 3-5, 2017.

Mali had a perfect 6-0 record in the covered outdoor venue of Stade Omnisport Eyadema de Lomé. But none of their 6 wins were more hard-fought than the final against Nigeria: a 12-11 thriller, where Mali top scorer Djeneba Ndiaye had a game-high 5 points. 

Nassira Traore was limited to just 2 points in the final but the sharpshooter was a leader for Mali all week and was named MVP of the Tournament.

Nigeria's come-back in the last minute of the game fell short despite Nkem Akaraiwe and Josette Anaswem scoring 5 points apiece.

Just like Traore, Nigeria star Nkechi Akashili struggled in the final (1 point) but was named in the Team of the Tournament for her overall contribution at the Africa Cup. She finished third overall in scoring with 28 points. 

The final member of the Team of the Tournament was the women's top scorer, 20-year-old sniper Jamila Nansikombi, who scored no less than 44 points in 6 games and led Uganda to a much-deserved bronze medal in Togo.

Nigeria absolutely dominated the men's category. They didn't just have a clean 5-0 record, they won every single one of their games before the 10-minute limit. The final against Cote d'Ivoire was no exception. 

The smallest man in a green uniform (6ft 2in, 1.88m), tournament MVP Azuoma Dike had a game-high 9 points in the final, including 2 shots from outside the arc and led Nigeria to a one-sided 21-9 win.

Cote d'Ivoire came out to play on Sunday and beat Mali in a 14-13 nail-biter in the quarter-finals and Madagascar in the semi-finals to take home the silver medal.

Their star, 28-year-old Cheick Tidiane Traore, earned a place in the Team of the Tournament next to Dike and tournament top scorer, 20-year-old Elly Randriamampionona, who spearheaded Madagascar's third-place finish in Togo.

Randriamampionona wasn't done yet: he also won gold at the Shoot-Out Contest, after beating out Mamadou Keita of Mali (silver) and Fatoumata Kone of Cote d’Ivoire (bronze) in the final.

Final standings of the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2017:

Women

1.Mali
2.Nigeria
3.Uganda
4.Cote d'Ivoire
5.Egypt
6.Ghana
7.Togo
8.Niger
9.Mauritania
10.Gambia

Men

1.Nigeria
2.Cote d'Ivoire
3.Madagascar
4.Egypt
5.Togo
6.Mali
7.Benin
8.Uganda
9.Ghana
10.Mauritania
11.Niger
12.Gambia

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ABOUT FIBA 3x3
Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour (www.fiba.basketball/3x3worldtour) and national-team FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

On June 9 2017, 3x3 was addded to the Olympic Program, starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Nike is FIBA 3x3's Founding Partner.

FIBA 3x3 events are played on Sport Court's floors with Schelde backstops and Magic Sky canopies, and benefit from Wilson's innovative and specially-made ball for 3x3.

For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on FacebookInstagramTwitter and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.com.