Nigeria’s D’Tigress delivered a dominant statement in Abidjan, crushing Cameroon 83-47 on Thursday night to march into the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.
The six-time champions were relentless from start to finish, leaving their opponents stunned and booking a high-stakes clash with Senegal in the last four.
Cameroon briefly led with a 4-0 burst, but that was as good as it got.
Coach Rena Wakama’s side immediately flipped the script, seizing a 7-4 advantage before unleashing the depth and energy that has made them Africa’s undisputed powerhouse.
By halftime, the contest was effectively over, with Nigeria cruising 36-18 behind Amy Okonkwo’s sparkling first-half performance of 15 points and 5 rebounds.
The second half turned into a rout. By the end of the third quarter, D’Tigress were up 66-31, with every rotation player contributing to the demolition.
Okonkwo finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds, while Ezinne Kalu ran the offense with five assists.
Nicole Enabosi added 12 points, Victoria Macaulay brought 12 points and 2 blocks off the bench, and Elizabeth Balogun chipped in 11 points and 5 rebounds.
The emphatic victory not only propels Nigeria into the semi-finals but also secures their ticket to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments.
Alongside Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan, D’Tigress will represent Africa in next March’s 24-team qualifiers, where they will join heavyweights like the United States, Brazil, and Argentina in the race for World Cup spots.
