Nigeria’s D’Tigresses have stormed into the semifinals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket after dismantling Cameroon 83–47 in a dominant quarterfinal clash on Thursday night in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The win extends Nigeria’s unbeaten AfroBasket streak to 27 games, dating back to 2015.
Ironically, their last loss in the tournament came against Cameroon in the semifinals that year—making this victory even sweeter.
Okonkwo Leads the Charge as Nigeria Flexes Depth
From tip-off, D’Tigresses controlled the tempo. Amy Okonkwo led the scoring with 18 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Nicole Enabosi and Victoria Macaulay each added 12 points, while Elizabeth Balogun chipped in 11. Captain Sarah Ogoke returned to action and sank an early three-pointer that lifted the team’s energy.
“We came in with a clear plan. The girls executed, and now we move forward. It’s not over—we’re only halfway through,” said Coach Rena Wakama.
All 12 players on Nigeria’s roster saw court time—and each one scored. The team’s third-quarter performance was especially ruthless, outscoring Cameroon 25–2 and shutting down their offense completely.
Cameroon, who had reached the quarterfinals after beating Angola, were simply no match for Nigeria’s pace, precision, and defensive intensity.
With this win, D’Tigresses have now qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament. They will face Senegal in the semifinals—a rematch of the 2023 final in Kigali.
Road to Olympic Glory Continues
D’Tigresses are chasing a record fifth consecutive AfroBasket title. A win against Senegal would put them in the final and secure an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany.
Nigeria has advanced to the semifinals of the Afrobasket women championship in Abidjan. They obliterated Cameroon 83_47 in the quarterfinals stage. pic.twitter.com/28OU8XSfCK
— Kenya News Centre🇰🇪 (@KenyaNewsCentre) August 1, 2025
Coach Wakama, who made history in 2023 as the first female coach to win the AfroBasket, is also eyeing Olympic success. Nigeria reached the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, their best-ever finish.
“We know our mission here and we will not allow anything to change that,” Wakama said. “It’s going to be emotional and physical, but we’re ready.”
Can Nigeria carry this intensity into the next round and go all the way once more? Drop your thoughts in the comments.Rate, Like 👍, Comment💬, share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
