D’Tigress will face the winners of the other semi-final game between Mali and Senegal in the final on Saturday
Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s D’Tigress secured a place in the final of the 2023 Women’s Afro Basketball Championship following an empathic win against the hosts of the tournament on Thursday night.
Rena Wakama’s side defeated Rwanda 79-48 in the semifinals to achieve the feat for the fourth consecutive time
Prior to the encounter, Nigeria on Wednesday, narrowly escaped an early scare to beat Mozambique 59-52 in the quarter-final to set up a showdown with the host in the penultimate round.
However, the defending champions maintained the starting five of the previous game. Amy Okonkwo, Palla Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Elizabeth Balogun, Sarah Ogoke and Blessing Ejiofor.
The Nigerian ladies were ruthless from the tip-off and put up a dominant display in the first quarter outshooting their hosts 22-6.
ALSO READ: Arteta assures Jesus’ knee injury won’t affect Arsenal’s plans
In the second quarter, D’Tigress extended their lead by 26-point before the half-time break.
Rwanda then responded in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 18 points but the quarter ended with the West Africans leading 58-35.
Nigeria continued their dominance in the last quarter and ended the game with a commanding 79-48 win.
D’Tigress, after the win, are now a step away from winning the women’s AfroBasket championships for the fourth time in a row.
They face the winners of the other semi-final game between Mali and Senegal in the final billed for Saturday.
