Deborah Akinyosoye
African Champions, Nigeria D’Tigress have advanced into the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket with a crushing 83-47 victory over Cameroon on Thursday night in Abidjan.
The six-time and defending champions will now meet Senegal in the next stage of the competition.
In the quarter-finals game, Cameroon had a bright start, opening the game on a 4-0 run, but Nigeria responded instantly, going up 7-4.
The depth of Coach Rena Wakama’s side quickly overwhelmed a Cameroonian team clearly fatigued after a demanding late-night qualification clash against Angola.
By halftime, it was all Nigeria, leading 36-18, with Amy Okonkwo setting the tone. The forward was simply unstoppable, racking up 15 points and 5 rebounds in the first half alone.
Off the bench, Victoria Macaulay brought a spark, combining presence in the paint with offensive efficiency.
By the end of the third quarter, it was a blowout: 66-31 in favour of the D’Tigress.
Amy Okonkwo finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. Point guard Ezinne Kalu orchestrated the offence with grace and grit, dishing out five assists. Nicole Enabosi added 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Victoria Macaulay contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Elizabeth Balogun chipped in with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block.
The win means that Nigeria and the three other African teams that reached the semifinals have secured their spots in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments in March.
Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Sudan join a group of 24 national teams that will compete in four FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 qualifying tournaments.
Brazil, Argentina, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Colombia will represent the Americas in the World Cup Qualifiers.