Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, secured a notable victory on Thursday, triumphing over Senegal with a score of 72-65 in their inaugural match of Group A at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying event held in Antwerp, Belgium.
Despite a close start, where the Afrobasket champions claimed a narrow lead of 20-18 in the first quarter, they found themselves trailing behind Senegal with a score of 37-46 by halftime.
Heading into the third quarter, Senegal continued to maintain their advantage, concluding the quarter with a score of 57-49, leaving Nigeria facing an uphill battle.
However, displaying remarkable resilience and determination, Nigeria mounted a remarkable comeback in the final quarter, initiating an impressive 11-0 run that swiftly shifted the momentum in their favour.
Amy Okonkwo emerged as a standout performer for Nigeria, delivering an outstanding performance with 21 points and 10 rebounds, reaffirming her status as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in 2023.
Nigeria’s journey to victory was indeed a roller-coaster ride, characterised by ups and downs, ultimately culminating in a well-deserved win.
Looking ahead, Nigeria is scheduled to encounter the United States in their upcoming match on Friday, followed by a showdown against Belgium on Sunday