Nigeria suffered a quarter-final defeat to two-time champions Mali, in the FIBA U18 AfroBasket, in South Africa on Wednesday.

The Nigerian team started strong, taking a four-point lead in the first quarter with a 23-19 advantage.

However, Mali quickly regained control, closing the first half with a narrow 40-38 lead, despite a last-second effort by Isaac Ezekiel that reduced the deficit for Nigeria.

Mali dominated the second half, showcasing their superiority and securing an 81-70 victory.

With this win, they advances to the semi-finals and a shot for one of two tickets to reach the FIBA U19 World Cup, while Nigeria will settle for a classification place.