D’Tigers win fourth Women’s AfroBasket title in a row, Okonkwo named MVP

Nigeria on Saturday became the first team to win four FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles in a row over the last four decades following their 84-74 win over Senegal.

Prior to Nigeria, Senegal was the last team to win four African titles in the 1970s.

The Nigerians’ sixth continental title comes exactly 20 years after they conquered their very first African crown in 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique.

Besides winning their fourth African title in a row, D’Tigress closed their campaign in Kigali unbeaten (5-0) to extend their continental winning streak to 24-0, dating back to the 2015 Women’s AfroBasket Third-Place game in Yaounde.

Amy Okonkwo was voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for the huge role she played in helping Nigeria make history.

The 26 year old hailed the impact of coach Rena Wakama in their historic victory.

“We have a coach that believes in us. It has us fighting till the end, even in adversity. So we knew we had our destiny in our hands. Even when Senegal came
back, we knew we had to step up, to keep together and we made it happen.

‘I was playing in Mexico this summer, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to come and lead. And I had the opportunity to lead the team. I told to myself that I was not coming to Kigali to lose anything. And being MVP is a huge honor,” she said.

D’Tigress coach, Wakama also became the first female head coach to win a Women’s AfroBasket title.

The coach is delighted she has been able to help the team make history.

‘Against Mozambique, we were down by 10 or 12 points. I looked into their eyes, and they told me: ‘Coach, we’re not going to lose this game..’.. And they
came back to win.

‘That was the defining moment for me. It has been a long year for me. I asked God for a sign, and this trophy was the biggest of them all.’
said Wakama.