Basketball
How Nigeria beat Senegal for the 7th time in a row to reach the 5th straight finals Women’s AfroBasket Final
Nigeria’s D’Tigress are one win away from a historic fifth straight Women’s AfroBasket title after overcoming a fierce battle against old rivals Senegal with a gritty 75–68 semifinal victory on Saturday night at the packed Palais des Sports de Treichville.
In what was arguably the most intense encounter of the 2025 tournament, the defending champions had to dig deep to extend their staggering unbeaten AfroBasket run to 28 games — a streak that dates back to October 2015. The win also marked Nigeria’s seventh consecutive victory over Senegal since 2011.
The tightly contested affair saw three major lead changes and a dramatic final stretch where experience and composure made all the difference.
Turning Point: Kalu’s Clutch Steal
With just under two minutes left on the clock and the score tied at 66–66, 2019 MVP Ezinne Kalu turned the tide. She picked Senegal’s Lena Timera clean and sprinted for a fast-break layup that restored Nigeria’s lead — a basket that proved to be the game’s defining moment.
Victory Macaulay followed it up with a critical hook shot to give Nigeria a 69–66 cushion, which would prove insurmountable as Senegal’s offense crumbled under pressure.
Late Surge Seals It
Down the stretch, Promise Amukamara delivered from the free throw line, sinking four consecutive shots to extend Nigeria’s advantage. The defending champions outscored Senegal 10–3 in the final three minutes, showcasing the poise and big-game mentality that has defined their reign in African women’s basketball.
Nigeria’s Big Four Deliver
The quartet of Kalu, Amukamara, Amy Okonkwo, and Macaulay powered Nigeria’s offensive engine, combining for 63 of the team’s 75 points. With Murjanatu Musa fouled out, Macaulay anchored the paint, finishing with three blocks and three steals to complement her clutch scoring.
Senegal’s Resistance and Dillard’s Heroics
Senegal’s leader, Cierra Dillard, gave a commanding performance with 26 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. She kept her side within striking distance throughout, but a series of costly turnovers — 23 in total, with 14 coming in the second half — undercut their comeback hopes.
Dillard’s frustration was evident after fouling out with nine seconds remaining on the shot clock. Her only major support came from Ndioma Kane, who added 14 points, as no other Senegalese player reached double figures.
Numbers That Tell the Story
Nigeria’s suffocating interior defence recorded five blocks and consistently disrupted Senegal’s rhythm. While Senegal shot a respectable 21-of-32 from the free throw line, those missed opportunities proved costly against a champion that thrives under pressure.
Voices from the Court
Nigeria centre Victoria Macaulay hailed her team’s resilience:
“On defence, we had to dig deep, trust each other, and get stops. We got there, and we won the game. I am thankful for my girls and for giving our all and playing together.”
Senegal coach Otis Hughley Jr., who previously guided Nigeria to two AfroBasket titles, saw promise in his young side:
“We had nine players without AfroBasket experience. We did something monumental by challenging the champions… At some point, it looked like we could pull it off.”
A disappointed Cierra Dillard reflected on missed chances:
“I wish I could take back my last three. I am disappointed in myself and my performance… I should have shown better leadership.”
The Bigger Picture
Officiated by an all-female crew — Ariadna Chueca (Spain), Nagede Zouzou (Côte d’Ivoire), and Aya Khaled Ahmed (Egypt) — this heavyweight semifinal was a celebration of the growing power and quality of women’s basketball in Africa.
Now, Nigeria awaits the winner of the second semifinal between Mali and South Sudan in what promises to be another test of their dominance.
One more win, and D’Tigress will hoist the AfroBasket trophy for a record-extending sixth time.
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By Ugo Okeiyi, Enugu
The end-of-year Ozobz Elite Basketball Invitational Tournament, tagged “Championing the Youth Through Sports, Education and Opportunity,” has taken off and will be concluded on Friday. The three-day event is taking place at the Indoor Sports Multipurpose Gymnasium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
The grassroots basketball competition is designed to serve as a platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian basketball talent.
A total of 14 teams — eight male and six female sides drawn from across the country — are competing for honours in what promises to be an exciting three-day basketball spectacle.
The tournament is powered by the Anthony Ozubuekwe Foundation, in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry for Youth and Sports Development and the Enugu State Basketball Association.
Organisers say fans should expect high-quality action, with displays of skill, athleticism and tactical awareness from some of the most promising young players in the country.
According to the organisers, the initiative is structured to positively engage young people, steering them away from social vices and criminal tendencies, while using sports as a tool for education, personal development and opportunity creation.
They added that the tournament will also give coaches and team officials a valuable opportunity to assess the mental readiness, discipline and competitive mindset of the players, while providing a conducive environment for athletes to interact, bond and learn from one another.
The competition will be played in a round-robin format, with attractive prize money on offer. In the men’s category, the champions will receive ₦2 million and a giant trophy, while the runners-up will earn ₦1.5 million.
In the women’s category, the winning team will go home with ₦1.5 million, while the second-placed team will receive ₦750,000.
With its blend of competition, youth empowerment and community development, the Ozobz Elite Basketball Invitational is expected to be one of the standout grassroots sports events of the year in Enugu State.
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Former head coach of Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, Alex Nwora, will join family, friends and well-wishers on December 28, 2025, to celebrate the 90th birthday of his father, Chief Charles Okwudi Nworah, in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The milestone celebration, according to Evelyn Childs, Public Relations Officer of the US-based Imo Women Elite Club (IWEC), will take place at the expansive Onitsha compound of the nonagenarian, who is highly regarded in his community.
Born on April 17, 1936, to Akudo and Agnes Nwora of the Okakwu family in Ogbedogwu Village, Onitsha, Chief Nworah’s early years reflected strong family values rooted in education and public service. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School before moving on to Prince Commercial College, and later completed his secondary education at Baptist High School, Osogbo, in Osun State.
Chief Nworah began his career in the civil service at a young age with the Post and Telecommunications Service (P&T), where his father also served and retired as a senior manager. His professional journey continued seamlessly into Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) following the merger of P&T with the Nigerian External Telecommunications.
Alex Nwora, who led D’Tigers through notable periods of growth and international competition, is expected to play a central role in the celebration, which will bring together members of the extended Nwora family and the Onitsha community to honour the life and legacy of the elder statesman.
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours on all members of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, in recognition of their historic victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
Each member of the team was decorated with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) title at a special reception held on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Representing the president at the event was Vice President Kashim Shettima, who announced a series of generous rewards for the champions.
In addition to the national honours, each player will receive $100,000, while each member of the technical crew will be given $50,000. The government also pledged a flat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to every player and official on the squad.
The rewards follow D’Tigress’s emphatic 78-64 win over Mali in Sunday’s AfroBasket final, played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan. The victory marked Nigeria’s fifth consecutive AfroBasket title, a feat unmatched in the tournament’s history. With the triumph, D’Tigress also secured an automatic berth to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
President Tinubu, in his remarks delivered by Vice President Shettima, hailed the team’s resilience, determination, and consistency, describing their dominance on the continental stage as a symbol of national pride and inspiration to the youth.
Present at the reception were First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, Garba Maidoki, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youths and Sports Development, and Kabiru Amadou, Chairman of the House Committee on Sports.
The honours and incentives underscore the government’s renewed commitment to recognising excellence in sports and motivating future champions.
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