The Junior D’Tigress returned to winning ways on Sunday with a commanding 70-40 victory over Senegal at the 2026 FIBA U-18 Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Nigeria entered the game looking to respond after suffering a narrow 75-74 defeat to Cameroon two days earlier. The victory took their record to two wins from three games, confirming their progression to the next round.
Nigeria established control from the opening quarter, racing to a 21-4 lead before extending their advantage further in the second quarter. They went into halftime with a comfortable 45-18 advantage.
Senegal attempted to change the flow of the game after the break. Head coach Pape Malick Diop tightened his team’s defensive setup and worked to limit Nigeria’s ability to score through quick transitions. The adjustment helped Senegal edge the third quarter 13-12, but Nigeria still maintained a sizeable lead.
The Junior D’Tigress restored their dominance in the final period as head coach Akindele made effective use of his bench. The introduction of Precious Aladelua, Edore Pela, Favour Anari, Nimah Ibidunni and Bisola Arowolo helped Nigeria regain momentum.
Nigeria eventually won the fourth quarter 13-9 to complete a comfortable 30-point victory.
Beyond their scoring advantage, the Nigerian side also showed strength on the defensive end, forcing Senegal into 34 turnovers while winning the rebounding battle 53-45.
Oluwatobiloba Owolabi led Nigeria’s scoring effort with 13 points, alongside two rebounds and one assist.
After the game, Ainab Adelaja credited the team’s collective effort for the victory and acknowledged the difficulty of the contest. She also insisted that Nigeria cannot afford to underestimate any opponent as the tournament moves into the knockout stages.
For Senegal, the defeat brought their Group C campaign to an end with a 0-3 record. Fatoumata Sall was their standout performer, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
The Junior D’Tigress will now turn their attention to the knockout stage as they continue their quest for continental glory.
