Nigeria’s D’Tigress has qualified for the AfroBasket final for the fifth consecutive time after defeating Senegal 75-68 in a thrilling semifinal match in Abidjan on Saturday.
This victory extends their unbeaten run against Senegal to 10 years, with the Senegalese team last winning in 2011.
The match was a closely contested one, with Senegal leading by 8 points at the start of the fourth quarter.
However, Nigeria’s D’Tigress proved their mettle, fighting back to win by 7 points.
The team’s determination and resilience paid off, as they dominated the final quarter, winning 23-10 to take the game 75-68.
Nigeria’s win over Senegal marks their 10th victory in 15 outings against the Senegalese team.
With this win, D’Tigress has secured a spot in the final, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal match between Mali and South Sudan.
The victory also confirms Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments, alongside fellow semifinalists Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan.
The Nigerian team will be looking to make a strong impression in the qualifiers and secure a spot in the World Cup.
The semifinal match against Senegal was particularly significant, as Nigeria faced off against their former coach, Otis Hughley, who now coaches Senegal.
Despite having inside knowledge of the Nigerian team, Hughley’s Senegalese team couldn’t match the determination and skill of D’Tigress.
With their spot in the final secured, D’Tigress will be looking to make it a fifth consecutive AfroBasket title, a feat no other team has achieved in the history of the tournament.
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