Video: D’Tigress celebrates triumph over Senegal to reach AfroBasket final

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, celebrated a hard-fought 75-68 victory against Senegal in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This thrilling win secures their fifth consecutive appearance in the AfroBasket final and extends their unbeaten streak in the tournament to 28 games, dating back to 2015.

Video link: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Archk4NZZ/pm

The semi-final clash was intensely competitive, with Senegal starting strong by opening an 11-2 lead.

However, Nigeria rallied swiftly with a 13-0 run to lead 22-17 at the end of the first quarter. The teams exchanged leads through the second and third quarters, with Senegal gaining a narrow 58-52 advantage after a dominant 21-9 third quarter run.

In the decisive fourth quarter, D’Tigress showcased resilience and championship pedigree by outscoring Senegal 23-10, overturning the deficit and clinching the victory.

Key contributions came from Ezinne Kalu, who led Nigeria with 19 points, alongside Promise Amukamara, Amy Okonkwo, and Victoria Macaulay, who all delivered critical plays. Macaulay was notable for her defensive effort, blocking shots and forcing turnovers in the paint.

Senegal’s Cierra Dillard was the top scorer for her team with 26 points but was hindered by crucial turnovers in the final minutes.

This victory marks Nigeria’s ninth consecutive win over Senegal and continues their dominance in African women’s basketball.

The team now prepares to face their West African rivals Mali in the final, aiming to secure a historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket title, a feat unparalleled in the competition’s history.