ABIDJAN (Côte d'Ivoire) - Nigeria survived a hard-fought test, beating arch rivals Senegal to advance to the Women's AfroBasket final for the fifth time in a row.
In a game with three crucial lead changes, the reigning champions, Nigeria, prevailed with a final score of 75-68.
With this victory, Nigeria extended their Women's AfroBasket winning streak to 28 games, dating back to October 2015 when they defeated Angola in the third-place game in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Senegal's perennial leader, Cierra Dillard, did everything she could to help Senegal beat Nigeria for the first time since 2011.
However, her efforts were hindered by Senegal's excessive turnovers in the final moments of the game. She eventually founded out with nine seconds on the shot clock.
Dillard's 26 points, seven rebounds, and three assists earned her the title of Senegal's best performer of the game. However, only one other Senegalese player, Ndioma Kane, scored in double figures with her 14 points.
The 2019 Women's AfroBasket Most Valuable Player (MVP), Ezinne Kalu, rescued Nigeria from ending their unbeaten run when she stole the ball from Lena Timera and finished with a fast-break two-pointer. A hook shot by Victory Macaulay gave Nigeria a 69-66 lead, which was technically insurmountable.
Nigeria outscored Senegal 10–3 in the last three minutes to advance to the championship game. They will face the winner of the second semifinal between Mali and South Sudan.
TURNING POINT: There's no doubt that Ezinne Kalu's steal with two minutes left shifted the momentum in Nigeria's favor as they took a 69-66 lead.
As time wound down, Promise Amukamara drew a foul, sending her to the free-throw line. The efficient point guard made both shots before returning to the line to make two more for Nigeria.
HERO: Reigning champions Olympians Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Amy Okonkwo, and Victoria Macaulay pushed when they needed it most.
With Murjanatu Musa out due to fouling out, Macaulay asserted her presence in the paint, blocking three shots and stealing the ball from Senegal three times.
Kalu, Amukamara, Okonkwo, and Macaulay combined for 63 points for Nigeria.
STATS DON'T LIE: Nigeria continues to embody the saying: "It's not how you start, but how you finish." Against Mozambique, Nigeria trailed for most of the first three quarters, but they turned things around midway through the fourth to advance to the semifinals.
On Saturday, Senegal proved they had scouted Nigeria thoroughly, but with players like Kalu on the floor, there was nothing Senegal could do, especially given their turnovers during crunch time. Senegal turned the ball over 23 times, 14 of which occurred in the second half.
Nigeria's aggressive play in the paint limited Senegal's ability to score easily, as they blocked five Senegalese shots.
Shooting 21-for-32 from the free throw line also damaged Senegal's chances of contesting a champion that never considered ending its 28-game winning streak.
BOTTOM LINE: The semifinal matchup between Nigeria and Senegal was a true celebration of women's AfroBasket. A packed Palais des Sports de Treichville watched as two of Africa's best teams traded blows, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Officiated by an all-female team consisting of Ariadna Chueca (Spain), Nagede Zouzou (Côte d'Ivoire), and Aya Khaled Ahmed (Egypt), Nigeria vs. Senegal lived up to expectations in every way.
Nigeria prevailed, beating Senegal for the seventh consecutive time since 2011 and reaffirming their dominance on the continent.
THEY SAID: “On defense, we had to dig deep, trust each other, and get stops. We got there, and we won the game. I am thankful for my girls and for giving our all and playing together.” – Nigeria center Victoria Macaulay.
“This is our first step with this group. I thought we fought hard and gave ourselves a chance to win, but a few discouraging possessions made a difference in the game. We played a really experienced team. They have played in three Olympics and two World Cups, and this is their fifth AfroBasket. I played in two of those. They are very experienced, but our ladies challenged them. We had nine players without AfroBasket experience. We did something monumental by challenging the champions. At some point, it looked like we could pull it off. However, we couldn't get the stops we needed.” Senegal head coach Otis Hughley Jr.
"I think the turning point was Kalu’s last steal. Besides that, we had some empty possessions in the fourth quarter that I wish we could take back. I wish I could take back my last three. I am disappointed in myself and my performance in pushing my team. I should have shown better leadership." - Senegal point guard Cierra Dillard
FIBA