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Rena Wakama’s charges led by nine points (19-10) at the end of the first quarter and took the second frame 24-21 to stamp their authority on the game.
For the fourth-straight time, Nigeria are the champions of Africa in women’s basketball.
D’Tigress defeated Senegal in the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket 2023 final played Saturday evening in Kigali, Rwanda to clinch the title.
Led by the tournament’s eventual MVP Okonkwo, Nigeria started on the front foot and withered the Senegalese third-quarter storm to get over the line.
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14:48 - 04.08.2023
FIBA WOMEN'S AFROBASKET Uganda Gazelles enjoy final dance in Kigali
Jannon Otto and Asinde led the way for Gazelles and when the lead was sufficient, Antuna used that opportunity to hand playing time to some of the fringe players.
Rena Wakama’s charges led by nine points (19-10) at the end of the first quarter and took the second frame 24-21 to stamp their authority on the game.
Senegal started the second half of the game with a 6-0 scoring run and cut the deficit to three points midway through the third quarter.
Nigeria, however, finished the game on a good run, with Murjanatu Musa dominating the boards to give the champions extra possessions.
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D’Tigress took the fourth quarter 22-17 to send their bench and fans into celebrations.
Ifunayo Okoro scored 16 points for D’Tigress while Elizabeth Balogun and Okonkwo added 15 and 14 respectively.
Musa had a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Cierra Dillard scored a game-high 19 points, picked four rebounds and dished out 10 assists but still ended up on the losing side.
She was, however, consoled by being named on the tournament’s best five.
Yacine Diop adde 16 points in Senegal’s futile push for gold.
Nigeria ended the tournament without testing defeat, having had a smooth ride through the group phase and through the knockout stages.
The champions defeated DR Congo and Egypt in Group D to book an automatic slot in the quarter-finals before brushing aside Mozambique and Rwanda in the quarters and semis respectively.
FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Rwanda 2023
Final
Nigeria 84-74 Senegal
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