Our girls have done it yet again!
D’Tigress are the first
African basketball team
in history to qualify for the quarterfinal round of the FIBA Women’s World Cup, after they ably defeated Greece 57-56 to earn their place in the final 8.
So far,the Nigeria senior women’s basketball team have kept their heads high and eyes fixed in their quest to do what no African team, male or female, has ever done — win the
FIBA World Cup!
With only two games between them and the basketball world crown, what are the odds that D’Tigress would be the next FIBA world champion?
The Game
Both teams came into the game quite prepared to win as there was clearly no margin for mistakes from either side in the first quarter. As the Greeks increased their pressure, so did D’Tigress who matched their opponents point for point until the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter, however, would see Nigeria hold Greece’s foot to the fire as Evelyn Akhator led the team to a 16-11 win, bringing the scores to 31-26 at halftime. The third quarter saw a more determined Greece try to take the game, but Nigeria proved up to the task as D’Tigress maintained their lead at the end of the quarter, 17-11.
Greece picked up the pace in the fourth quarter, and came within an inch of victory, but, D’Tigress scored just enough points to grab the big win.
Nigeria will now take on the number 1 team on the globe and defending champions, United Sates of America on Friday, September 28.
