Côte d’Ivoire won their first FIBA U18 AfroBasket title on Sunday, defeating Senegal 73-51 in the final in Abidjan to cap an unbeaten run through the tournament.

Playing in front of a home crowd at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, the Ivorian team took control early and never allowed Senegal to mount a serious comeback.

Côte d’Ivoire led 16-7 after the opening quarter and went into halftime with a 34-24 advantage. The hosts then pulled away decisively in the third quarter, outscoring Senegal 21-10 to take a 55-34 lead into the final period.

Senegal could not close the gap as Côte d’Ivoire maintained its defensive intensity and completed a 22-point victory.

The result capped a perfect campaign for Côte d’Ivoire, who won all six of their games at the tournament. They defeated Egypt 67-57 in the quarter-finals before overcoming Cameroon 62-57 in the semi-finals.

Nathan Djako led Côte d’Ivoire in the final with 22 points and was subsequently named the tournament's Most Valuable Player by FIBA.

The victory also carries historical significance for Ivorian basketball. According to FIBA, the U18 triumph marks Côte d’Ivoire's first continental men's title since the senior national team won the African championship in 1985, also on home soil.

Senegal finished runners-up, while Cameroon secured third place after beating defending champions Mali 73-69 in the third-place game.

For Côte d’Ivoire, the victory represents more than a home triumph. It is the country's first U18 men's continental crown and a significant milestone for the next generation of Ivorian basketball.