Nigeria’s women’s basketball team has struck another awesome feat by clinching their fourth consecutive title in the 2023 Women’s Afrobasket championship, setting a new record for consecutive victories in the tournament.
The D’Tigress demonstrated their mettle on the court, outshining Senegal with a final score of 84-74, and emerged as the worthy champions in the highly anticipated competition hosted in Kigali, Rwanda.
Joining the elite ranks of Senegal, Nigeria has become the second African team to secure four consecutive championship titles, solidifying its status as a dominant force in African basketball history.
Having previously secured the crown in 2017, 2019, and 2021, the team’s most recent accomplishment at the BK Arena marks their fourth consecutive victory, a remarkable feat in the world of women’s basketball.
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Nigeria set the tone for the game with a strong start, dominating the first quarter and leading with a score of 19-10. As the game progressed, their advantage continued to grow, and at half-time, the score stood at 43-31 in favour of the D’Tigress.
With a promising start, Nigeria took control of the game, through to a victorious first quarter with a score of 19-10. Their impressive form continued, and by half-time, the D’Tigress held a commanding lead of 43-31.
The game took a turn after the break, as the Senegalese fought back valiantly, claiming a 62-57 lead over Nigeria after an intense third quarter.
The final quarter saw Coach Rena Wakama’s team rise to the occasion, exhibiting great strength and tenacity to overpower their opponents and achieve a well-deserved 10-point victory.
Saturday’s fourth consecutive victory marks a significant milestone as the gaffer becomes the first female coach to claim the Women’s Afrobasket competition title, a remarkable achievement just weeks after taking charge of the team.
The team’s historic win saw two remarkable achievements, as not only did Wakama make history as the first female coach to win the competition, but Amy Okonkwo also garnered recognition as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her exceptional contributions in the East African nation.
On the road to the championship final, the D’Tigress showcased their resilience by overpowering hosts Rwanda in an awesome performance.
Prior to that, they had already secured a significant victory over Mozambique in the quarter-final match.