D’Tigress delivered a dominant performance to defeat Cameroon 83-47 to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2025 Afrobasket in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The Nigerian girls were on the front foot from the start of the game winning the first quarter 21-9 points but when the Lionesses thought that they were beginning to build some confidence by tying the second quarter 20-20 points.
The African champions raised their game to another level in the third quarter with a stunning performance to earn 25-2 points.
By the fourth quarter, the Nigerian crowd at the stadium were already in a celebration mood as Nigeria edged it 17- 16 points to win the game with a 36 point margin.
Captain Amy Okonkwo led the statistics with a total of 18 points, 6 rebounds and one assist followed by Anamosi Nichole, who finished the game with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Nigeria is now two games away from an unprecedented five straight Afrobasket title, and will take on Senegal in the semi final on Saturday, a repeat of the 2023 Afrobasket final in Rwanda.
Coach Rene Wakama is expecting a tough game against Senegal in the semi-finals.
She said: “Credit to Cameroon because first half they refused to go away but my message in the half to the girl is that we must come out and be dominant and the girls responded 25 to 2 in the third quarter.
“On Saturday it’s going to be a great game and it will definitely be emotional for some and that is basketball. But we know our mission here and we will not allow anything to change that, but as I said it is going to be an emotional game and very physical as well”.
D’Tigress are now unbeaten in 27 matches in the competition since 2015, they are also closing in on a record fifth consecutive title.
Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan join a group of 24 national teams that will compete in four FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 qualifying tournaments.
Each tournament features six teams, and the tournaments will determine the 16 teams that will compete in the Women’s World Cup in Germany.
The winner of the Afrobasket will get an automatic ticket to the World Cup.
