Champions of Africa! Nigeria’s D’Tigress Wins 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship In Mali For The Third Time (Photo)

Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, D’Tigress, on Sunday, defeated Senegal 65-48 to win the Women Afrobasket Championship in Mali, for the third time after 12 years.


The Nigerian team had defeated host nation Mali 48-47 points in the semi-final on Saturday in Bamako to secure one of the two FIBA World Cup tickets available to Africa.

They had won the 2003 and 2005 editions. With the victory, the team has qualified for the 2018 Women FIBA Championship in Spain.

Evelyn Akhator, Dallas Wing forward, in the Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) who was selected as one of the top five performers in the competition, scored 13 points and seven rebounds for D’Tigress.

Akhator also made two assists and one steal even as she made no successful block during the final game.

D’Tigers Captain, Aisha Muhammed, Adaora Elonu and Ezinne Kalu contributed seven rebounds, four assists and two steals respectively during the match.

However, Astou Traore, the top performer for Senegal, scored 17 points which was the highest score in the match, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and no block, all in vain to stop D’Tigress.

Meanwhile, the victorious team will arrive the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on today, Monday August 28.

The contingent will arrive Lagos aboard Air Cote d’Ivoire after departing Bamako, Mali on the 28th August at 14.00 hours local time.

The team will be without Coach Sam Vincent, Mfon Udoka, Evelyn Akhator and Nyingifa Atonye who have all left from Bamako to their various bases due to club and personal engagements.

Akhator left for Chicago to play for her club Dallas Wings in a WNBA game while Nyingifa will join her club in San Juan, Puerto Rico.