Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’tigress record equalling 4th straight Afrobasket women’s title is still in progress after beating Rwanda for a final spot.
To get into the finals, the Nigerian women defeated host country Rwanda, 79-44 in the semi-final with their president watching.
Defending champions, Nigeria’s D’Tigress will be hoping to win the Afrobasket title for a historic 4th in a row.
Only Senegal have done so in 1974,1977,1979 & 1981. Nigeria’s three peat:2017,2019 and 2021.
The D’Tigress have been unbeaten after four games in the tournament.
Nigeria will play Senegal in a repeat of the 2017 and 2019 final. Senegal are going for their 12th title while Nigeria is aiming going for their 6th title and 4th in a row.
Amy Okorownkwo led all scorers and stats with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals 1 block, 2/2 FTM 5/8 3PM all in 33 minutes.
The Dtigress record journey started with a win against Guinea and Egypt in the group stage. The team beat Mozambique in the quarter-final to set up a semi final clash with Rwanda.
D’tigress Squad Breakdown
Only three players – Amy Okoronkwo, Musa Murjanatu and Sarah Ogoke from the title winning 2021 squad are in the 2023 D’Tigress team to Afrobasket women in Rwanda.
Also, the team has up to 75% Afrobasket debutants in the team as the NBBF decided to do away with the regular squad.
Dtigress Record: A New Coach, The Only Female Coach At Afrobasket
D’tigress aren’t only fielding 75% new team but they are also under a new coach, Rena Wakama in charge.
Wakama was appointed by the NBBF to replace longstanding and successful Otis Hughely without any cogent reason.
Furthermore, Wakama turns out to be the only woman head coach at the Afrobasket women.
Wakama, a former First Bank Basketball club player, previously worked as an Assistant Coach at Stony Brooks University, USA.
She featured for First Bank women basketball team at the FIBA African club championships in Angola, 2015.
The Dtigress didn’t just reach the final of the AfroBasket, they have also qualified for the Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Paris 2024.