FIBA U18 Afrobasket: J’ Tigress qualifies for historic S/final

Posted : 12 September 2024

The Nigeria U-18 Women’s Basketball team, J’Tigress, has continued their impressive form with another significant upset at the ongoing FIBA U18 Afrobasket in South Africa. The team has eliminated the reigning silver medalists, Egypt, from the competition with a stunning 66-51 win.

The Junior D’Tigress are now on their way to the semi-finals of the competition after a 13-year wait.

Nigeria, which qualified for the Last Eight as one of the two best third-place finishers from the Group Phase, was perfect from the start against the undefeated and highly formidable Egyptian side.

Abigail Isaac, who was the top scorer for the team, led Nigeria’s assault on Egypt with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Idubamo, who scored 13 points, was crucial for her side with 7 assists, as was Wandoo Marvis.

Nigeria led 6-1 and again at 11-3, a start that spelled doom for Moustafa Atef Hadhood’s Egypt, which struggled from then on.

A first-quarter score of 24-13 was far from what was expected from the silver medalists against a team that qualified as one of the two best third-place finishers.

Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu’s charges continued to pull away in the second quarter, extending the lead to 13 points halfway through the quarter at 32-19.

The North Africans tried to stay close with a 13-10 quarter, but the damage from the first quarter proved difficult to repair.

Doyinsola Lijirin got the action going in the second half with a layup 26 seconds in, not the start Egypt would have wanted. Beggi and Momoluwa Ayomide Tewogbade (13) each knocked down three-pointers, with Haya Alhalawany pulling one back to make it 46-30.

After losing their first encounter to Egypt, Nigeria came up with a bold performance for the quarter-finals match.

A 17-13 outcome in the third quarter saw the Nigerians carry a significant advantage into the final quarter.

Despite winning the final quarter 15-12, it was too little, too late for the Pharaohs to turn the match around, making it a sweet revenge for Nigeria.

Nigeria will now face Uganda in the semi-finals on Friday at 2 p.m. Uganda defeated Tunisia in another quarter-final match, 69-53, to advance to the semi-finals with Resty Nanangwe once again leading the scoring with 27 points.

Meanwhile, Mali will face Cameroon in the second semi-final on Friday to determine the other finalist.

FIBA U18 Afrobasket: J’ Tigress qualifies for historic S/final

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