D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, on Friday in Yaounde defeated their Senegalese counterparts 73-63 to book a place in the final of the 2021 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.
In a highly-charged semi-final encounter between the two perennial West African rivals, Nigeria continued their unbeaten run in the competition with a dominant performance.
D’ Tigress who are defending champions had beaten Senegal in 2005, 2017 and 2019 to lift the women’s Afrobasket trophy, thereby making Friday’s encounter more titanic.
The Otis Hughley-tutored Nigerian ladies started the game in impressive fashion, taking the first quarter 22-11 and second quarter 23-20 to head into the break.
On resumption, D’Tigress slowed down the game but was still winning 15-13.
The Senegalese rallied back in the fourth quarter to take it at 19-13, but it was too little to late as Nigeria prevailed 73-63 at the sound of the final whistle.
Nigeria’s top performer, Victoria Macaulay, was outstanding with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, four blocks and one steal.
Nigeria’s trio of Amy Okonkwo (16), Ify Ibekwe (14) and captain Adaora Elonu (12) gave Nigeria 42 points.
Senegal forward and captain Mame-Marie Sy-Diop led all players in scoring with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks; enterprising swingman Yacine Diop and Ndeye Fatou Ndiaye contributed 14 and 11.
Nigeria will now meet Mali in the final on Sunday, Mali had earlier beaten host Cameroon in the first semi-final match.
Nigeria is seeking to become only the second nation to win three straight AfroBasket crowns since Senegal did it in 1970s
