On Friday, Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress narrowly defeated Uganda 71-67, earning a spot in the final of the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2024.
The tense semifinal showdown, held at Pretoria University in South Africa, saw the Nigerians secure their place in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025 in Czechia. They will be joined by Mali, who dominated Cameroon with a commanding 103-45 victory in the other semifinal match earlier in the day.
Uganda faced a tough challenge against Nigeria, despite previously defeating them during the Group Phase. However, this time, Nigeria turned the tables and achieved a well-deserved victory, offering them a sweet sense of retribution.
Nigeria, who claimed silver in 2010, won just one game during the Group Phase, a 107-30 victory over Zimbabwe, but they capitalized on a second chance by advancing as one of the two best third-place finishers.
The quarterfinals saw a rematch between Nigeria and Egypt, a team that had handed Nigeria a 72-60 loss in the group stage. In a reversal of fortunes, Nigeria triumphed 66-51, proving their resilience when it mattered most and securing their advancement.
Coached by Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu, Nigeria once again fought hard against Uganda. Meanwhile, Uganda’s coach Omondi, who had already elevated his team’s ranking from the previous edition, aimed to guide his side to their first-ever podium finish.
Statistically, Nigeria held a slight edge over Uganda, with key players like Idubamo Beggi and Abigail Isaac leading the charge. Uganda, on the other hand, relied on Resty Nanangwe, Modesta Anyango, and Mia Belinda to drive their offense. Nigeria now prepares for Saturday’s final against Mali, seeking to redeem themselves following Nigeria’s men’s defeat to their West African counterparts in Thursday’s quarterfinal.
