D’Tigress Perfect Group Record Ignites Hope Of Third AfroBasket Women’s Title

Nigeria female basketball national team D’Tigress on Wednesday night in Bamako, Mali ended their group B campaign at the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket on a winning note, defeating defending champions Senegal 58-54, ensuring they topped group B (5-0).

Nigeria and Angola are the only teams at the championship to have a perfect record, winning all five group games, potentially setting up for a final clash on Sunday.

D’Tigress coached by Sam Vincent began their quest for a third African title on Friday with an 80-69 win against Mozambique. They followed up with successive 84-47, 106-72 wins against DR Congo and Egypt respectively.

On Tuesday the women played arguably their easiest game of the tournament against a helpless Guinea side, recording a 106-33 blowout win against their fellow West Africans.

Their confidence and great form saw them overcome the African champions on Wednesday night in a fiercely contested game, the 4-point win a testament to the close contest.

Next up for D’Tigress on Friday are Ivory Coast in the Quarterfinals, a game the Nigerian women should fancy winning with ease, considering the Ivorian’s finished fourth in group A, winning two games and losing three (2-3).

Evelyn Akhator has been the standout player for D’Tigress at the tournament, leading scoring in the last three successive games-Egypt, Guinea and Senegal, the high point of her tournament an impressive double-double feat against Senegal (15-points and 13-rebounds).