Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigresses, delivered another commanding performance on Thursday, crushing Cameroon 83-47 to secure a place in the semifinals of the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket tournament.
With the win, Nigeria not only moved one step closer to their fifth consecutive title but also extended their unbeaten run in the continental competition to 27 games—a streak that began in 2015.
The clash began with Cameroon’s Jessica Thomas and Maria Ewodo scoring the opening four points, but that brief moment of dominance was quickly erased when reigning MVP Amy Okonkwo opened Nigeria’s scoring with a free throw. That single point sparked a dominant turnaround for the defending champions.
A mid-range jumper by Elizabeth Balogun gave Nigeria a 5-4 lead, after which they went on a clinical 8-0 run in the closing minutes of the first quarter to take a 21-9 lead. Although Cameroon found their footing in the second quarter and matched Nigeria point for point, the damage from the first quarter lingered, leaving them trailing 41-29 at halftime.
The game was effectively put out of reach in the third quarter when Nigeria went on a blistering 25-2 run, dismantling Cameroon’s defense and killing any hope of a comeback. Even though the Lionesses edged the fourth quarter 16-14, it was a mere formality by then.
While Amy Okonkwo led the scoring with 18 points in just under 19 minutes of play, the victory was the result of a collective team effort. Every player who logged more than 10 minutes contributed at least one basket, with four players hitting double digits in points.
The loss sends Cameroon—who finished with bronze in the 2021 edition—into the fifth-place classification matches, where they will hope to improve on their 2023 outing.
Reacting to the win, Nigeria forward Murjanatu Musa said, “We played as a team, enjoying the game by doing what we do best, and this is the result. We feel great about making it to the semifinals again. We’ll try our best to make it to the finals. We know them and they know us. We just have to do our thing and see what happens in the end.”
Echoing the same fighting spirit, guard Ezinne Kalu added, “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. 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.”
As D’Tigresses gear up to face Senegal in what promises to be a thrilling semifinal clash, they remain focused on continuing their legacy as the undisputed queens of African women’s basketball.
What You Should Know
Nigeria’s D’Tigresses are on the cusp of making history once again at the Women’s AfroBasket tournament, following a dominant win over Cameroon.
With their 27-game unbeaten streak intact and a semifinal clash with long-time rivals Senegal ahead, the six-time champions are setting their sights on a fifth consecutive title—a feat no other African team has achieved.
The team’s unity, depth, and relentless pace on both ends of the court continue to set them apart, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in African women’s basketball.
