NIGERIA’S D’Tigress retained their Women’s Afrobasket crown with a 70-59 win over a spirited Mali at the Palais Polyvalent du Sports in Yaounde, the Cameroonian capital on Sunday.

The win secured the team’s third consecutive Afrobasket title after previous victories in Mali in 2017 and Senegal in 2019.

The African champions started the game with a show of force taking the first quarter 22-11 but their West African counterparts would not just let them get the win easily, as they bounced back to reduce their deficit, winning the second quarter 13-9 as the first half ended 31-24 in favour of the Nigerians.

D’Tigress were ruthless after the halftime break, dominating the third quarter to finish 28-14 while they maintained their lead as the Malians, looking for an upset took the final quarter 21-11 but their fightback came too late as the Nigerians held on for a 70-59 win.

Centre Victoria Macaulay led D’Tigress in scoring with 15 points while guard, Ezinne Kalu and small forward, Ify Ibekwe, added 13 points apiece with captain Adaora Elonu scoring 12 points.

Elonu and centre Oderah Chidom had four rebounds apiece, the highest for the Nigerians.

Mariam Coulibaly scored 13 points for Mali with nine rebounds while Sika Kone made a double-double posting 12 points and 11 rebounds.

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D’Tigress led in steals (nine to six), assists (15 to 10) and blocks (six to one) while the Malians had more turnovers (24 to 22) and fouls (16 to 13).

Nigeria’s captain Adaora Elonu was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player while she was joined by guard Ezinne Kalu in the All-Star squad of the competition.

Cameroon’s power forward Marina Ewodo, Malian centre Mariam Coulibaly and Senegal forward, Yacine Diop complete the All-Star squad.

Hosts Cameroon beat 11-time winners Senegal 53-49 to win the third-place position, giving the nation something to cheer about. This is the first time in more than five decades that Senegal will finish outside of the podium of a FIBA Women’s AfroBasket event.