Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress in their quest for a third straight AfroBasket title won Cote d’Ivoire to advance to the semifinals of the 2021 edition.
After emerging from Group B with three wins, the D’Tigress on Wednesday, September 23, 2021, faced Cote d’Ivoire in a quarterfinal clash in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The D’ Tigress started the better side with a starting five of Ezinne Kalu, Victoria Macaulay, Ify Ibekwe, Odera Chidom, and captain Adaora Elonu took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and eventually winning 24-8.
In the second quarter, they continued their dominance and extended their lead by 22 points, heading into half-time with a 43-21 scoreline.
Cote d’Ivoire fought back in the third and fourth quarter, but Nigeria were too much for them and held on for a final 72-56 victory. Kalu once again was the standout performer for D’Tigress with 17 points, four rebounds, six assists and one steal.
The D’Tigress will play Senegal-who beat Mozambique in the quarterfinals- for a place in the final. Nigeria has won this title four times and is the reigning champions after winning back to back in 2017 and 2019.