The Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has once again shown its prowess on the court by securing a place in the final of the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Nigerians showcased their prowess by defeating the host country, Rwanda, with an emphatic scoreline of 79-48 in the semifinals on Thursday.
After narrowly overcoming Mozambique with a 59-52 victory in the quarter-finals, D’Tigress faced the challenging task of confronting the resilient Rwandan team in the penultimate round. Led by coach Rena Wakama, the Nigerian squad proved their mettle by sticking to the starting five that secured their quarter-final win.
From the onset, Amy Okonkwo, Palla Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Elizabeth Balogun, Sarah Ogoke, and Blessing Ejiofor displayed relentless determination, quickly establishing a dominant 22-8 lead in the first quarter. Their relentless pursuit of victory was evident as they extended their lead further to 44-18 by halftime, leaving the Rwandans struggling to keep pace.
Despite a spirited fightback from the hosts in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 58-35, D’Tigress remained unfazed and regained control in the final quarter. With an outstanding 31-point victory, they secured their place in the much-coveted tournament final.
Amy Okonkwo led the Nigerian charge with a remarkable 23 points, while Oluwayemisi Taiwo contributed 12 points, further fueling D’Tigress’ triumphant performance.
With this impressive victory, D’Tigress stands on the brink of making history, aiming to clinch their fourth consecutive women’s AfroBasket championship. The spirited Nigerian team has consistently demonstrated their prowess on the court and is now only one step away from etching their name in the annals of basketball history.
In the highly anticipated final on Saturday, D’Tigress will face the winners of the other gripping semi-final clash between Mali and Senegal.
