The Junior D'Tigress, Nigeria's U18 women's basketball team, has made history! The team has secured a place in the semifinals of the 2024 FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket Championship in Pretoria, South Africa, following a dominant 66-51 victory over Egypt. This marks a significant achievement for Nigeria, as it's the first time in 14 years that they've reached the semifinals of this prestigious tournament.
Entering the quarterfinals as one of the top third-placed teams, the Junior D'Tigress wasted no time showcasing their skills. They dominated the first quarter, leading 24-13. The momentum continued into the second half, with Nigeria extending their lead to 37-24 at halftime.
Despite facing some challenges in the third quarter due to turnovers and foul trouble, the team's defense remained strong. They maintained offensive pressure with fluid ball movement, ending the third with a comfortable 54-36 lead.
Egypt, who had previously defeated Nigeria in the opening game of the tournament, were unable to replicate their earlier success. Nigeria's squad sought redemption and found it, with Abigail Isaac leading the charge with an impressive double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Looking ahead, Nigeria will face Uganda in the semifinals on Friday at 5:00 p.m. (GMT+2). The other semifinal matchup will feature Cameroon against Mali.
As the Junior D'Tigress continue to make strides in the tournament, Nigeria's basketball fans are eagerly anticipating their performance in the semifinals and beyond.