Nigeria’s D’Tigress Win Fourth Consecutive Afrobasket Title
Nigeria have won the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket championship, making it a record fourth title on the bounce.
The D’Tigress defeated Senegal 84-74 in Kigali, Rwanda to etch their names in Nigerian basketball folklore.
Congratulations @DtigressNG
PURE CHAMPIONS!!!
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
COME ON NAIJA!!! 🇳🇬 💪🏾 #AfroBasketWomen pic.twitter.com/RWsPhDKSY9
— Austin Okon-Akpan (@ProudlyAustin) August 5, 2023
Nigeria are now the second side, after Senegal (1974 to 1981), to have won the championship four times in a row. They now have six titles.
The team clinched the crown in 2017, 2019, and 2021 before the most recent feat at the BK Arena.
!
Welcome your @FIBA #AfroBasketWomen 2023 champions, the D’Tigress!
Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/VDPEyfRRG2
— FIBA Women’s Afrobasket (@afrobasketwomen) August 5, 2023
4 consecutive times in a row…. pic.twitter.com/h6e5iWRF0S
— DTigress (@DtigressNG) August 5, 2023
Nigeria started the game on a good footing, winning 19-10 in the first quarter. At half-time, it was 43-31 in the D’Tigress’ favour.
But after the break, the Senegalese clawed back into the game. That gave them a 62-57 lead after the third quarter.
With just a quarter left, Coach Rena Wakama’s team fought stoutly to overpower their opponents and ended the game with a 10-point win. Mali took the bronze medal.
Rena’s Reign
Saturday’s four-peat means the gaffer is the first female coach to win the Women’s Afrobasket competition, weeks after she was appointed to lead the side.
Rena Wakama went into the 2023 Afrobasket Women tournament as the only female head coach. Following the victorious outing of @DtigressNG, @Coach_Rena takes her place in history as the 1st female coach to have accomplished this feat in the history of the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket. pic.twitter.com/zxxQrn0RYy
— DTigress (@DtigressNG) August 5, 2023
If Rena Wakama leads @DtigressNG to gold medal, she will be the first female coach to accomplish this feat in the history of @afrobasketwomen . pic.twitter.com/ZNFmBbO9wg
— ivoirebasket (@ivoirebasket) August 5, 2023
Wakama was not the only person that made history with the win. Amy Okonkwo also earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize for her impressive showing in the East African nation. She got 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Most deserving MVP award to @amesokonkwo pic.twitter.com/lJ3Vf9Matl
— DTigress (@DtigressNG) August 5, 2023
En route to the final of the championship, the D’Tigress overpowered hosts Rwanda. Before then, they also beat Mozambique in the quarter-final. They were in Group D of the tournament alongside Egypt and Congo DR.
