Africa-Press – Senegal. The Nigerian women’s basketball team qualified for their fourth consecutive final in the Afrobasket on Thursday, beating a valiant team from Rwanda 79-48.
The D’Tigress dominated a Rwandan team full of youth, talent and ambition. Rwanda, host country of the tournament, arrived for the first time in its history at this stage of the competition. The Senegalese technician Cheikh Sarr is the main trainer.
The reigning champions did not give gifts to the band to Ineza Sifa. At the end of the first quarter, Nigeria was well ahead, 22-6, suggesting a one-sided game.
The Nigerians started the second quarter as they finished the previous one, with a concentration and determination that speaks volumes about their declared desire to bend the game and kill all suspense in front of an opponent carried by an entire stadium.
Amy Okonkwo’s teammates showed skill and efficiency on three-point shots. A strategy obviously aimed at killing any hope of Rwandan women to come back to the score.
Even if the Nigerians only scored 14 points in the third quarter, the domination of the defending champions suffered from no doubt, in front of the Rwandans who tried everything to change the scoreboard.
The last quarter time was only the reflection of the three previous ones, with Nigeria largely dominating in the game and serious in attitude.
Winner of its last three finals (2017,2019,2021), Nigeria is the second most successful nation with five trophies (2003,2005), behind Senegal which has eleven.
The Nigerians will meet the winner of the semi-final between Mali and Senegal, either for a remake of the 2021 final or that of 2019.
Nigeria participated in its first African basketball championship in 1974, in Tunisia. He finished fifth in this fourth edition won by Senegal. The Lionesses won their first continental trophy.
The Lady Tigers finished third in the 1997 and 2015 editions, all won by the Lionesses of Senegal.
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