In a thrilling finale at the 2023 FIBA Women's Afrobasket tournament, the Nigeria national women's basketball team, D'Tigress, emerged as champions once again by defeating Senegal with a score of 84-74. This victory is historic as it marks the fourth consecutive title for D'Tigress, making them only the second team to achieve such a feat after Senegal.
After a 12-year wait without a title, D'Tigress broke their drought and claimed the championship in 2017. They continued their dominance by clinching the titles in 2019, 2021, and now 2023, showcasing their amazing prowess on the court.
The team faced skepticism at the beginning of the tournament as it was largely composed of "rookie" players, with only a couple of experienced players. However, led by coach Rena Wakama, D'Tigress proved their critics wrong from their first game against Congo DR and silenced doubts throughout the tournament.
Their determination and confidence were evident in the semi-final when they defeated hosts Rwanda, signaling their intention to claim the top prize. In the final at the BK Arena in Kigali, D'Tigress started strong, with Amy Okonkwo setting the tone by scoring the first two points in the first quarter. They controlled the game in the early stages, winning the first quarter 19-10 and maintaining their advantage with a 24-21 win in the second quarter.
At halftime, they held a comfortable 43-31 lead, putting them halfway to achieving their target. However, the Senegalese Ladies staged a strong comeback in the third quarter, winning it 26-19 and narrowing Nigeria's lead to just five points heading into the final quarter.
With everything on the line in the last quarter, D'Tigress rose to the occasion and demonstrated their resilience, ultimately winning the nervy quarter 22-17 and securing a final score of 84-74.
An interesting milestone in this victory is that Coach Wakama became the first female coach to win the Afrobasket title. Her success has fueled hopes and dreams of even greater achievements, especially with the Olympic qualifiers approaching.
D'Tigress' triumph in the 2023 FIBA Women's Afrobasket tournament highlights their dominance in African women's basketball and solidifies their status as one of the continent's basketball powerhouses.
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