Reigning African champions, Nigeria’s D’Tigress, have secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket after a dominant 83-47 win over Cameroon on Thursday night in Abidjan.
The six-time titleholders will now face Senegal in the semi-final clash.
Cameroon started the quarter-final encounter strongly with a 4-0 run, but Nigeria quickly turned the tide, taking a 7-4 lead. Coach Rena Wakama’s deep and energetic squad proved too much for a visibly tired Cameroonian side, still recovering from a tough late-night qualifier against Angola.
By halftime, Nigeria had taken full control, leading 36-18, with Amy Okonkwo dominating the floor. The forward was in top form, posting 15 points and 5 rebounds in the first half alone.
Victoria Macaulay came off the bench to energize the team, making her presence felt in the paint and contributing efficiently on offense.
By the end of the third quarter, the D’Tigress had blown the game wide open, holding a commanding 66-31 lead.
Okonkwo wrapped up the night with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. Ezinne Kalu led the playmaking with five assists, while Nicole Enabosi scored 12 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Macaulay added 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Elizabeth Balogun contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block.
The victory secured Nigeria’s place in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments, alongside Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan.
They join 20 other nations including Brazil, Argentina, the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Colombia that will battle it out across four qualifying events.
