Defending champions, D’Tigress of Nigeria and Cameroun will clash in a Group B winner-takes-all game at the Women’s Afrobasket in Senegal, which will come up on Tuesday at 5:30 pm at the Diamniadio Arena, Dakar.
This will be the first real test for the champions, who are hoping for a successful title defence in Dakar. When both sides met in the semifinal of the 2015 edition in Yaounde, the Cameroonians won 71-70.
The West African neighbours avoided each other at the last edition in Mali but will have a go at each other as they battle for the top spot in Group B.
Nigeria currently leads the table with a better point difference as both sides have two points from wins over the group whipping girls, Tunisia.
D’Tigress power forward, Evelyn Akhator is expected to lead the line for the Nigerians. Akhator dropped the tournament’s first double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block to inspire D’Tigress to a resounding victory over the Tunisians.
Atonye Nyigifa, who got 12 points against Tunisia, is also expected to be at her best as well as Ezinne Kalu, Sarah Ogoke, Captain Adaora Elonu among others.
Akhator has said that her team still needs to get better if it hopes to win its fourth title in Senegal.
Akhator told FIBA.basketball after the game against Tunisia that the Nigerian team still needed to work hard. “We still need to get better because this is the Women’s AfroBasket. This game was like bread and butter because the main meal is yet to come so we have to keep fighting and play hard.”
Coach Otis Hughley who used the game against Tunisia to rotate his squad and give minutes to everyone must ensure the best players get the most minutes on the court.