Nigeria’s D’Tigress have retained their title after defeating Senegal 84 – 74 in the final of the FIBA women’s AfroBasket on Saturday.
D’Tigress have now won the last four editions (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023) of the continental tournament equaling the feat achieved by Senegal in 1974, 1977, 1979 and 1981.
It is a sixth title for the Nigerian women’s senior national team to Senegal’s 11 titles.
They have now gone 24-0 in the AfroBasket and have not lost a single game in more than seven years.
D’Tigress took the first quarter 19 – 10 and also edged the second quarter 24 – 21.
Senegal bounced back to take the third quarter 26 – 19 before D’Tigress won the fourth quarter 22 – 17.
Meanwhile, in the third placed game hosts Rwanda lost to Mali 89 points to 51.
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
D’Tigress you guys have make us proud to be a Nigerian again
There’s a big gap between Nigerian men’s success rate in sport compared to that of our women.
Congrats once again to the players and crew of D’Tigress team.
Honestly, when the squadlist was released about 2 weeks ago, I was very skeptical. The quality of selected players paled in comparison to the all-conquering class of 2019 and 2021 that reached the Qfinals of the world cup and qualified for the Olympics.
I saw players playing mostly in the US collegiate, some African leagues and the local league, and with a few from the last squad, a lot of work needed to be done, physically, technically, mentally and psychologically by the coaching crew from 30th of June till when the tournament dunked off.
We seemingly might have strolled to this title, but it was probably the most difficult of all 4 we have won in a row so far, considering the injustice and hurt meted out to them by the sports ministry just because they demanded for their entitlements and the fact that they hadnt played for almost 2 years now.
I doff my hat for Rena Wakama who has made history now by becoming the first female coach to win a continental basketball championship in Africa.
The NBBF should please build intelligently on this success, by first paying these girls and their handlers to the last cent of what they deserve for this victory, open the door of reconciliation with the rest of the group in order to build a team that can aspire to win on the global stage, and make reparations by paying the previous girls too all they were owed. It is definitely not good that we bring these girls down home to come put the name of the nation on the global map and then not fulfil simple, basic commitments to them.
And lastly, may we never see another evil like Sunday Dare befall our sports again.
Aṣẹ Waaaaa!
The man with the SADIM touch. That’s MIDAS spelled backwards. His awful decisions swept through our sports landscape like a category 5 hurricane. He brought to nothing the strongest female basketball team Africa had ever seen. Because they dared to demand for their right. Payment of their unpaid bonuses!
Amen ooo
Is this an automatic qualification to the Olympics?
Congratulations to our golden girls, the D’ Tigress, for putting smiles in the face of Nigerians during this difficult times. I salute coach Wakama, the supporting staff.
I had my doubts regarding this team considering that a new coach was brought in very late and she had to look for players to prosecute the competition, because of never ending issues with sports generally in Nigeria, especially with our female teams. I salute the boldness and belief coach Wakama had accepting this mountainous task, and the girls for quickly adapting to the coache’s philosophy.
Nigeria has had more female successes in the field of sports than her male counterpart. They deserve more respect than they are presently having from those in authority over sports generally.
Finally, I hope our Super Falcons draw inspiration from this win and come out shining in their assignment tomorrow. I hope the D’ Tigress victory rubs of them.
Come on Super Falcons, you can do it.
D’Tigress put up a spirited team display that was what drove them to the trophy because if they were to depend on the individual brilliance of Amy Okonkwo then they’ll have crumbled like the Senegalese who were heavily reliant on Dillard. Taking nothing away from Dillard what a multi talented lady whom only lost the MVP as a result of coming second place. Congratulations to Nigeria but I will not forget Dillard anytime soon!!!!