The National female Basketball team, the D’Tigress endured a difficult contest to beat the Mozambicans 59-52 to reach the Semi final stage of the 2023 FIBA AfroBasket Championship in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Nigerians got off to difficult start to the game , narrowly losing the first two quarters. The first quarter was pretty much an even contest but the Mozambican stole a match on their opponents late on to open a two points gap between themselves and Nigeria, winning it 18-16.

The Nigerians found themselves s further 8 points behind at the start of the second quarter before they could respond with 5 quick points on the bounce. They crawled their way back into the contest, reducing the gap 4 points as the overall scoreline read 33 -29 at the break with the Mozambicans taking the second quarter 15-13

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After an initial slow start to the 3rd quarter, the D’Tigress cut short the deficit of 4 points and opened up a 4 points advantage over their opponents. They maintainec the 4 points lead by the end of the 3rd quarter, winning it 18-10 with the overall scoreline at 47-43.

Mozambique started the 4th quarter strongly, cutting back Nigeria’s 4 points lead to just two with two early points of their own. They closed the gap to just a point swiftly. Nigeria added another point to extend their advantage to 2 points moments later.

Coach Rena Wakama ‘s girls went on to win the contest at the end, winning the 4th quarter 12-9 and the game by a difference of 7 points at 59-52. Nigeria’s Amy Okonkwo (17pts) and Elizabeth Balogun (12pts) put up a stellar performance.

The girls will now face host Rwanda at the semi final stage for a place in the final. The Rwandans defeated Uganda 66-61 earlier today.