Nigeria beat Angola to set up final against Mali at 2015 All-Africa Games
BRAZZAVILLE (AfroBasket Women 2015) - With just days to go before the start of AfroBasket Women 2015, Nigeria and Mali continue to remind everyone why they will be among the contenders at the tournament
BRAZZAVILLE (AfroBasket Women 2015) - With just days to go before the start of AfroBasket Women 2015, Nigeria and Mali continue to remind everyone why they will be among the contenders at the tournament taking place in Yaounde, Cameroon, from 24 September to 3 October.
In Thursday's first Semi-Final at the 2015 All-Africa Games in the Republic of Congo's capital of Brazzaville, Nigeria and Mali defeated two other title contenders, Angola and Senegal respectively, to set up Friday's title showdown.
The Nigerians remain the only undefeated team in the tournament thanks to their seven wins in as many games.
D'Tigress steamroll the host country Congo 102-23 #NOMERCY #AllAfricaGames @NigeriaBasket @BballNaija @TheNBBF pic.twitter.com/w9n0iEkLjL
— Nigeria Village Sqr. (@Village_Square) September 14, 2015
Nigeria rallied to secure a 61-59 victory over Africa's reigning champions Angola, while Mali edged out Senegal 70-62.
The Angolans led 55-45 midway through the final quarter, but somehow, Scott Nnaji's resilient team managed to tie the contest at 59 with 50 seconds remaining and control the remaining of the contest.
Nigeria playmaker Sarah Ogoke capitalised from an Angolan turnover to make two free throws to end Nigeria's decade-long drought against the Southern Africans, for their first victory in the last five meetings between the two teams.
Angola forward Ngiendula Filipe could have tied the contest from the charity stripe with two seconds remaining, but missed both foul shots to send the Nigerians into jubilation.
D'Tigress defeated Angola 61-59 and have booked their tripped to the finals! pic.twitter.com/6UXkAdw4EQ
— Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) September 17, 2015
Ogoke, Adaora Elonu and Joyce Ekworomadu finished with 14 points apiece, while Angola Fineza Eusebio, the Most Valuable Player of the latest edition of the Angolan championship, led all scorers with 17 points.
In the second Semi-Final, Senegal forward Mame Marie Sy - who is expected to play a key role for the Western Africans at AfroBasket Women 2015 - came up with a team-best 16 points. But it was Mali who ended up savouring the taste of victory, thanks to a dominant performance from Naignouma Coulibaly as she scored a game-high 18 points.
Nigeria and Mali will play the 2015 All-Africa Games women's basketball Final on Friday at Makelekele Gymnasium, while Senegal and Angola will clash in the Third-Place Game.
Both Nigeria and Mali could not have a better morale booster with AfroBasket Women 2015 tipping off in six days. The winner of the 12-team tournament in Cameroon secures direct qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
FIBA