Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have powered their way into the semifinals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket with a commanding 83 to 47 win over Cameroon in their quarterfinal clash at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The dominant victory sets up a high-stakes semifinal showdown against familiar rivals Senegal, who narrowly edged past tournament hosts Ivory Coast 66 to 60 in a tense encounter earlier in the day.
After grinding out a hard-fought group stage win over Mozambique, D’Tigress came into the quarterfinals looking refreshed, thanks in part to an extended rest period of over 24 hours compared to their Cameroonian opponents. From the opening tip, Nigeria made their intentions clear, surging to a 21 to 9 lead in the first quarter with high-tempo play and clinical finishing.
Cameroon responded in the second quarter, matching Nigeria point-for-point to finish the frame 20 to 20. The reigning champions, however, still carried an 11-point lead into halftime and returned from the break with renewed intensity.
The third quarter was a statement of dominance from D’Tigress. Their suffocating defense limited Cameroon to just two points, the lowest single-quarter output in the tournament — while pouring in 25 points themselves to all but seal the game. In the final quarter, Cameroon showed flashes of resistance, but Nigeria maintained control, edging the period 17 to 16 and sealing the win with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Serah Ogoke.
Amy Okonkwo was outstanding once again, leading all scorers with 18 points. Nicole Enabosi and Victoria Macaulay each added 12 points, while Elizabeth Balogun contributed 11 points in a balanced team performance.
For Cameroon, Jessica Thomas tallied 11 points, a game-high eight rebounds, and four assists, while Dulcy Fankam managed 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals despite the defeat.
With the victory, Nigeria remain unbeaten in the tournament and are now one win away from the final. Their semifinal clash with Senegal on Saturday promises fireworks, with both teams aiming to inch closer to qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
D’Tigress, chasing a fourth consecutive Afrobasket title, continue to prove why they are the team to beat in African women’s basketball.
