The Nigerian national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, defeated Senegal 84-74 in the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship final to win Africa for the fourth time in a row.
With the victory, Nigeria extended their winning streak to 23 games and became just the second team, after Senegal, to win four titles in a row.
Nigeria last suffered a defeat in the Women’s AfroBasket semifinal matchup against Cameroon in 2015.
The winners trounced the hosts Rwanda 79-48 in the semi-finals on Thursday after fighting to defeat Mozambique 59-52 in the quarter-finals to advance to the last-four matchup with the team they had defeated in their previous two games in 2009 and 2011.
With a victory over Senegal, they maintained their excellent play under new coach Rena Wakama.
Amy Okonkwo made the game’s opening basket, but the D’Tigress fell behind when Senegal went up 4-2 before Elizabeth Balogun scored three points to give them the lead back.
Nigeria won the first quarter 19-10 because to Wakama’s team’s refusal to give up its advantage throughout the contest.
The D’Tigress, led by Tomi Taiwo, Ifunaya Okoro, and Sarah Ogoke, scored three points each in the second quarter, putting further pressure on the Senegalese.
D’Tigress led 43-31 at the half, with a 12-point advantage after the second quarter.
Senegal got out to a strong third-quarter start, going on a 10-4 surge following the half. They defeated Nigeria 13-4, which compelled D’Tigress to announce a timeout.
The D’Tigress third quarter, which ended 62-57, aroused some questions, as it did in the previous games, as they were outscored by their opponents.
The champs got off to a strong start in the fourth quarter, regaining a 10-point advantage behind their captain Ogoke.
Although it was a close game, D’Tigress prevailed, and the final score was 84-74.
This past Saturday’s encounter was the fourth time the two nations have faced off, with Nigeria claiming victory on each occasion.
They first met in 2005, with the champions winning 64–57. They then rematched in 2017, with the champions winning again 65–48, followed by a 60–55 triumph for the D’Tigress in 2019.