Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on Saturday advanced to the final of Afrobasket 2025, beating Senegal 75–68 in a tough semi-final encounter played in Côte d’Ivoire.
The match was keenly contested by both sides, with 11-time champions Senegal chasing a record-extending 12th continental title.
However, Nigeria, already on a four-title winning streak, were equally determined to maintain their dominance and extend their impressive run in the continental championship.
D’Tigress, which won the first quarter by 22–17, in a fast-paced and closely fought contest, maintained momentum, narrowly edging the second quarter 21–20, despite Senegal’s resilient and aggressive display.
But the tables temporarily turned against the D’Tigress as they lost steam in the third quarter, allowing Senegal to dominate with a huge 21–9 turnaround that shifted the game’s momentum.
Interestingly, with Senegal surging ahead, leading 68–62 with just seven minutes left, the match became a make or mar battle for the Nigerian Ladies as they went full blast in search for the final berth.
Expectedly, Nigeria’s fighting spirit prevailed as the team rallied strongly, producing a stunning 23–10 finish in the final quarter to win the match at 75–68.
With the final ticket safely in their custody, D’Tigress are now awaiting the winner between tournament debutants South Sudan and former champions Mali to determine the African champion for the next two years.
