August 01, (THEWILL) — On Thursday, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigresses, delivered a commanding 83-47 victory against Cameroon in the quarter-final of the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The defending champions, led by coach Rena Wakama, extended their unbeaten streak in the tournament to 27 games, a testament to their dominance in African women’s basketball. The match saw Nigeria pull ahead decisively in the third quarter, outscoring Cameroon 21-0 to cement their lead.
D’Tigresses entered the game as four-time consecutive champions, having topped Group D with wins over Rwanda (92-45) and Mozambique (65-60). Against Cameroon, Amy Okonkwo led the charge, scoring 15 points by half-time and finishing with a game-high performance. The team’s defensive strategy stifled Cameroon’s backcourt duo, Jessica Thomas and Joelly Emmanuelle Claude Belleka, limiting their impact despite their tournament averages of 16 and 15 points, respectively. Nigeria’s focus on neutralising Cameroon’s guards proved effective, as the Lionesses struggled to find rhythm.
The third quarter marked a turning point, with Nigeria’s relentless defence and sharp shooting creating a 35-point lead by the end of the period (66-31). The D’Tigresses’ suffocating defence and Okonkwo’s standout contribution were crucial to the lead. Cameroon, who had qualified for the quarter-final after an 85-64 win over Angola, could not replicate their earlier form. The loss echoed their 2015 semi-final victory over Nigeria (71-70), the last time D’Tigresses fell in Afrobasket competition.
Coach Wakama, named the 2024 Olympic Coach of the Year, credited her team’s preparation and focus. The return of veteran shooting guard Sarah Ogoke, who missed earlier matches, bolstered Nigeria’s depth. With this victory, D’Tigresses advance to the semi-final against Senegal, aiming to become the first team to win five consecutive Afrobasket titles. The semi-final is set for Saturday.
Nigeria’s performance points to their status as Africa’s top-ranked women’s basketball team, with a 29-0 record against continental opponents since 2015. Fans in Abidjan and across Nigeria celebrated the team’s commanding display, with expectations high for another championship run. The final and third-place games are scheduled for Sunday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
