Dominant Victory Extends Unbeaten African Streak
Nigeria’s D’Tigress have secured their place in the semifinals of the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket tournament after a commanding 83-47 win over Cameroon in Abidjan. The victory keeps Nigeria’s title defense alive and pushes their unbeaten run in Africa to 27 games, a streak that began in 2015.
This latest triumph edges the team closer to a record fifth consecutive title, a feat only previously achieved by Senegal.
Strong Start by Cameroon, Swift Response by Champions
The match, played Wednesday night at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, saw Cameroon’s Jessica Thomas and Maria Ewodo give the Indomitable Lionesses an early 4-0 lead with sharp shooting.
But that brief dominance ended quickly once reigning MVP Amy Okonkwo got Nigeria on the scoreboard with a free throw. With a smooth jump shot from Elizabeth Balogun, Coach Rena Wakama’s side grabbed the lead at 5-4 and never looked back. They went on an 8-0 run in the final 2 minutes and 40 seconds of the first quarter to finish it at 21-9.
Cameroon Attempts a Comeback
Cameroon tried to recover in the second quarter, matching Nigeria’s 20 points, but the damage from the opening period left them trailing 41-29 at halftime.
The third quarter, however, saw D’Tigress completely dismantle Cameroon’s defense with a 25-2 run, sealing the fate of the 2021 bronze medalists. Even though Cameroon edged the fourth quarter 16-14, the gap was already too wide.
Next Stop: Senegal in the Semifinals
With this victory, Nigeria will now face Senegal in the first semifinal clash on Saturday — a matchup that promises to be both intense and historic, given both nations’ legacies in women’s basketball.
Team Spirit and Identity on Display
After the game, Ezinne Kalu, one of the team’s key guards, spoke about the team’s identity and determination.
“We just needed to stick together and play Nigerian basketball. This is the definition of Nigerian basketball: fighting, throwing the first punch, setting the tone, and bringing the energy to win over our supporters and fans.”She added:
“We are super excited to move to the semifinals! It’s going to be a great game. Senegal is a great team, and I’m looking forward to playing them.”D’Tigress have now won four consecutive AfroBasket titles — 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023 — and remain heavy favourites to lift the trophy once again. Their combination of defensive discipline, offensive depth, and mental strength has made them a dominant force on the continent. The clash against Senegal will not only test their resilience but could also be a defining moment in African women’s basketball history.
