D’Tigress thrash DR Congo in Afrobasket opener

Nigeria’s D’Tigress defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 69-35 in their opener at the 2023 women’s Afrobasket championship.

The Nigerians were ruthless against the Congolese in a lop-sided encounter at the BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday.

The Nigerian team was ahead by 16-8 in the first quarter. The lead was extended to 29-18 at halftime and then climbed to 46-32 in the third quarter.

D’Tigress blew the Congolese out of the water in the final quarter and secured a well-earned 34-point victory.

Nigeria will play Egypt in their final group game on Sunday.

D’Tigress have won the last three editions of the Women’s Afrobasket, and they remain unbeaten in every African competition.

Ahead of this year’s tournament, the D’Tigress team that won the competition three consecutive times was overhauled by the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).

Rena Wakama replaced Otis Hughley as the team’s head coach, while the squad for the 2023 Afrobasket was compiled following the open tryouts in Chicago, Lagos, and Abuja.

Some top players did not make the final cut. The affected players include Adaora Elonu, the team’s captain to the 2021 Afrobasket triumph, Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu, Victoria Macaulay and Ify Ibekwe.

The decision was unpopular as some players announced their retirement from the team in protest.