Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress on Friday edged Uganda 71-67 to progress to the final of the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket 2024.
The Nigerians, who walked away with a win in the nail-biting semifinal fixture at Pretoria University in South Africa, secured a ticket for the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025 in Czechia alongside Mali, who steamrolled Cameroon 103-45 in the other semifinal clash at the same venue earlier in the day.
Uganda had their work cut out facing Nigeria, despite having won the sides’ fixture in the Group Phase, with today’s victory coming as sweet revenge.
The 2010 silver medallists, Nigeria, won one game in the Group Phase, a 107-30 outcome against Zimbabwe, but got a second chance at fighting for the title after making the Last Eight as one of the two best third-place finishers.
A rematch in the quarters against Egypt, a side Nigeria lost 72-60 to in the group phase, saw the West Africans turn the tables to beat the Pharaohs 66-51 when it mattered and advanced.
While the Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu-led Nigeria fought for a similar feat against the East Africans, coach Omondi, who has already improved Uganda’s ranking from the last edition, was on a mission of his own as the side looked to make the podium for the first time.
Statistically, Nigeria held a slight advantage over Uganda, with the scoring battle expected to be led by Idubamo Beggi and Abigail Isaac for the former and Resty Nanangwe, Modesta Anyango, and Mia Belinda for the Ugandans.
Nigeria will on Saturday (tomorrow) face off against Mali in the final, looking to avenge Nigeria’s men’s defeat to fellow West Africans in the quarterfinal on Thursday.