AfroBasket 2017: Nigeria’s D’Tigress Crowned African Champions

The Nigeria Senior Women’s Basketball team, D’Tigress, have emerged African champions following their 65-48 win over Senegal on Sunday in the final of the 2017 Afrobasket Championship in Bamako, Mali .

The Sam Vincent’s ladies had beaten hosts Mali 48-47 in the semi-final on Saturday, to secure one of the two FIBA World Cup tickets available to Africa.

Trailing by six points from the first quarter, the Nigerians fought back to win the second quarter 21-10 points.

D’Tigress never looked back as they extended their lead by winning the third quarter 15-7 points and the fourth quarter 17-13 points.

Point guard, Osaretin Ekhator, emerged top performer for Nigeria with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

The match was a repeat of the 2005 final, when D’Tigress defeated the Lionesses 64-57 in Abuja for their second African title.

The Nigerian ladies will now head to the next year’s FIBA Women’s World championship in Spain as African champions.