Nigeria’s D’Tigress have cemented their position as the most feared women’s basketball team in Africa by winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive AfroBasket title.
The team displayed resilience and composure in a tense showdown against Mali, edging them out 78-64 to claim their seventh AfroBasket title.
Nigeria got off to a slow start, but regrouped in the second quarter and headed into halftime with the scores level at 41-41.
Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu delivered standout performances, with Okonkwo contributing 19 points and Kalu scoring 20 points, including several crucial baskets in the second and third quarters.
The Nigerian ladies tightened their defense in the third quarter, outscoring the Malians 20-15 to take a decisive lead.
Nigeria led 61-56 at the beginning of the fourth quarter and went on to win the game 78-64.
D’Tigress became the first African country to win five consecutive AfroBasket titles, dominating African women’s basketball with 29 consecutive wins without a single loss since 2015.
The team is expected to receive a handsome reward from Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, who recently rewarded the Super Falcons with $100,000 for winning the 10th WAFCON title.
President Tinubu commended the team’s resilience and dominance, paying special tribute to Coach Rena Wakama, the first woman to lead the team, for her inspiring leadership.
