Nigeria‘s D’Tigress kicked off their title defense at the AfroBasket Women’s tournament in style, securing a resounding victory against Congo DR with a scoreline of 69-35. The match, which took place at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, showcased the team’s dominance and determination to maintain their winning streak.

Right from the start, the D’Tigress exhibited their prowess on the court, taking a commanding lead in the first quarter with a score of 16-8 against Congo DR. Their exceptional performance continued in the second quarter, with Nigeria maintaining their lead at 13-10.

Despite Congo DR’s efforts to narrow the gap, the Nigerian team remained relentless, extending their lead in the third quarter with a score of 17-14. In the final quarter, the D’Tigress demonstrated their defensive prowess, allowing only three points while adding 23 points to their tally.

Ifunaya Okoro take your standing ovation 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

11 points
4 rebounds
2 assists
4 steals
5/9 FTM
27 minutes pic.twitter.com/RuSlH35GIN

— Queen John-Moseph (@Queenjohn4) July 28, 2023

Key scorers for the Rena Wakama led side were Ifunaya Okoro and Elizabeth Balogun, both contributing 11 points, while Sarah Ogoke and Tomi Taiwo each scored 10 points.

The victory against Congo DR marked Nigeria‘s 20th consecutive win in the Women’s AfroBasket tournament. The team has not faced defeat in this competition since October 2, 2015, during the semi-final match against host Cameroon in Yaoundé.

🐅 𝗗𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗠! 💪

👉 The defending champs 🇳🇬 open this year #AfroBasketWomen championship with a win over DR Congo 🇨🇩! pic.twitter.com/ATLr6q9J8A

— FIBA Women's Afrobasket (@afrobasketwomen) July 28, 2023

With this impressive winning streak, Nigeria aims to further cement their status as a dominant force in women’s basketball. Although Senegal holds the record for the most titles in the tournament with eleven, D’Tigress is determined to match Senegal’s feat of four consecutive wins in the current edition of the tournament in Rwanda.

The Nigerian team’s outstanding performance in the opening game has set the tone for the rest of the tournament, and they will undoubtedly be a formidable force to reckon with as they continue their journey to defend their title. As the competition progresses, basketball enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more captivating displays from D’Tigress, as they strive to make history once again on the African basketball stage.

The only female coach at the 2023 @afrobasketwomen , @Coach_Rena Rena Wakama @DtigressNG head coach. Got her first win today against Congo DR next is a tough game against Egypt on Sunday. #AfrobasketWomen
📷 @afrobasketwomen pic.twitter.com/SrAdTMWTBT

— Queen John-Moseph (@Queenjohn4) July 28, 2023

Overall, the D’Tigress’ victory against Congo DR is a testament to their skill, dedication, and commitment to excellence, and it positions them as strong contenders for the coveted Women’s AfroBasket title in Rwanda.