The Junior D’Tigress showed character when it mattered most, holding their nerve in a closely contested encounter to book their place in the championship game.
Playing against the host nation meant dealing with a lively home crowd and the pressure that comes with a semi-final, but Nigeria stayed composed throughout the contest. Côte d’Ivoire pushed the Nigerian girls all the way, but the Junior D’Tigress found a way to get over the line.
The 53–50 victory means Nigeria have now reached the final of the competition, keeping their hopes of claiming the continental title firmly alive.
It has been an impressive run for the Junior D’Tigress, who have continued to show resilience as the tournament has progressed. Their quarter-final victory over Cameroon was particularly emphatic, as Nigeria bounced back from their earlier group-stage defeat to beat the same opponents 75–45 and secure their place in the last four.
They then faced Côte d’Ivoire in the semi-final and once again produced when it mattered most.
Now, only one game stands between Nigeria and the gold medal.
The Junior D’Tigress will face Mali in the final on Sunday, August 16, at 11:00am Nigerian time., setting up a repeat of the 2024 U18 Women’s AfroBasket final, when the two nations also met for the title.
