D'Tigress' Amy Okonkwo going for the basket in Nigeria's victory over Senegal | Photo Credit: FIBA
D’Tigress of Nigeria have qualified for the final of the 2025 Women’s Afrobasket in Cote d’Ivoire.
The team defeated Senegal 75-68 in the semi-final game at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan on Saturday.
The victory secured Nigeria’s fifth consecutive Women’s Afrobasket final since 2017.
D’Tigress progressed to the semi-final after trouncing Cameroon in the quarter-final on Thursday.
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The game against the Senegalese, Nigeria’s perennial basketball rival, proved a more brutal battle than the previous clash. The Senegal team was led by Otis Hughley, a former D’Tigress coach who won three consecutive Afrobasket titles for Nigeria between 2017 and 2021.
Despite the tough challenge, D’Tigress started excellently and led 22-17 at the end of the first quarter.
However, the Nigerian firepower slowed down in the second quarter, and the Senegalese held the margin to six points as the scoreline was 43-37 at halftime.
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The third quarter was abysmal for D’Tigress. The team only managed nine points throughout, and trailed by 58-52 at the buzzer.
However, the team rejigged its focus and drive in the final quarter and wrestled turnovers and finished vital shots to clinch a 7-point victory.
D’Tigress will face either Mali or South Sudan in the final on Sunday.
Nigeria are on course to become the first country to win five consecutive Women’s Afrobasket tournaments.
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