Djoliba AC Women suffered a narrow 56-45 defeat at home to Stade Women in the Mali Ligue 1 Women on June 26, 2026. The match, played at the Stade de Bamako, saw the visitors control the tempo from the opening tip, building an early lead that Djoliba could never fully erase. Despite a late rally in the fourth quarter, the home side's shooting struggles proved too much to overcome in this closely contested league fixture.

Stade Women's Strong Start

Stade Women came out with a disciplined game plan, focusing on high‑percentage shots and aggressive on‑ball defense. They jumped to a 16-8 lead in the first quarter, capitalizing on Djoliba's cold shooting from the floor. The visitors' guards exploited gaps in the Djoliba zone defense, finding open looks in the paint and knocking down mid‑range jumpers. By halftime, the lead had stretched to 32-20, with Stade shooting 48% from the field while Djoliba managed just 28%.

Djoliba's Second-Half Fightback

Djoliba AC Women showed improved energy after the break, tightening their defensive rotations and forcing several Stade turnovers. A 9‑2 run in the third quarter cut the deficit to single digits, giving the home crowd reason to believe. However, Stade responded with a timely three‑pointer and a pair of fast‑break layups to restore a comfortable margin. Entering the fourth quarter with a 44-35 lead, Stade Women managed the clock effectively, keeping Djoliba from mounting a serious comeback.

Key Players and Statistics

• Djoliba AC Women – The team's leading scorer finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds, working hard inside despite constant double‑teams. The point guard added 6 assists but also committed 5 turnovers under pressure. Djoliba's bench contributed only 8 points, a factor in the loss.
• Stade Women – A versatile forward led all scorers with 18 points and 9 rebounds, controlling both ends of the floor. The starting guard pair combined for 22 points and 8 assists, effectively breaking Djoliba's full‑court press in the second half.

League Standings Context

The defeat drops Djoliba AC Women to 4‑3 in the Mali Ligue 1 Women table, while Stade Women improve to 5‑2, strengthening their position among the title contenders. The loss highlights Djoliba's ongoing issues with offensive consistency; they have now scored under 50 points in two of their last four matches. Stade, meanwhile, continues to rely on a balanced attack and stingy defense, traits that could carry them deep into the postseason.

With the regular season approaching its midpoint, both teams will look to build on this performance. Djoliba will need to address their shooting woes in upcoming training sessions, while Stade Women will aim to maintain their defensive intensity as they face tougher opponents on the road.