Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress have made a significant achievement by qualifying for the 2025 FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup after a hard-fought victory in the semifinals of the 2024 FIBA U-18 Women’s Afrobasket Championship.
The Nigerian team triumphed over Uganda in a thrilling contest, winning 71-67 on Friday afternoon in Pretoria, South Africa, to earn their place in the grand finale of the tournament.
This victory not only takes Nigeria to the final of the Afrobasket Championship but also secures one of the two coveted spots allocated to African teams for the 2025 FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, which will take place in the Czech Republic.
The Junior D’Tigress have displayed remarkable skill and determination throughout the tournament, and their success in the semifinals guarantees them a place on the global stage, where they will compete with the best youth basketball teams from around the world.
The semifinal match against Uganda was intense and closely contested, with the Nigerian team showing great resilience to maintain their lead and ultimately come out on top.
The Junior D’Tigress demonstrated their growing prowess on the court, with a well-balanced offense and solid defense that allowed them to edge past their Ugandan opponents.
Having secured their World Cup qualification, Nigeria will now turn their attention to the final, where they are set to face the defending champions, Mali.
Mali has been a dominant force in African women’s basketball, having won the Afrobasket Championship eight times, and they will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent.
The final, scheduled for Saturday, promises to be an exciting and challenging encounter as Nigeria aims to dethrone Mali and claim the title.
For Nigeria, reaching the final and earning a World Cup spot marks a significant milestone in the development of women’s basketball in the country.
The Junior D’Tigress’ success is a testament to the talent and hard work of the players, as well as the growing support for basketball in Nigeria.
As they prepare to face Mali, the team will be looking to continue their impressive run and potentially bring home the championship trophy.
