By Andrew Abah
It is finally down to the best two teams for the ultimate prize of being crowned the 2025 Afrobasket champions as record chasing Nigeria D’Tigress take on Mali in Sunday’s final at the Palais de Sports de Treichville.
The Nigerian Team had to dig deep to overcome their perennial rivals Senegal 75-68 points in a thrilling encounter that saw the team came from an early nine points deficit in the first quarter and also 12 points margin in the third quarter to pull off an outstanding forth Quarter to silence the overwhelming roaring crowd.
After a close first half which ended 22 – 17 and 21- 20 points in favour of Nigeria , the Senegalese totally dominated the third quarter 21-9 points to go into the final quarter with a six point advantage but Rene Wakama’s girls turned the screw again to see off the game with a devastating 13 points margin.
The win stretched the Nigeria Women’s team record to 28th straight wins at the Afrobasket since 2015 and just one game away from a five straight African title.
Mali on the other hand made a light work of debutants South Sudan in the other semi final 76-50 points as they eye their second Afrobasket title, having only won it in 2007 in Senegal.
Sunday’s final will be a repeat of the 2021 final in Cameroon which D’Tigress won 70-59 points.
Meanwhile the leadership of the National Sports Commission, NSC, has charged the girls to remain focused and complete the job in the final on Sunday.
Chairman of the NSC Mallam Shehu Dikko said ” this is an history making team and I am very proud to say these girls are a true reflection of the never say die Nigerian spirit because of how they fought with everything to beat the Senegalese”.
” The girls didn’t allow the pressure of the opposing crowd to overwhelm them as they stayed calm and disciplined throughout the match even when they were down in the third quarter “.
The Director General of the NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade, also reflected on the breathtaking game against Senegal with huge confidence ahead of thr final against Mali.
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” I was not surprised that the Senegal game was very tough for our girls because of how we have dominated them by beating them in the final of three of the four consecutive titles we had won”.
” They were very determined to stop the losing run this time but our team showed experience, calmness and aura of a true champion to maintain their superiority and dealth the Senegalese their seventh straight loss to us”, he said.
