Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire renew rivalry with AfroBasket Women 2015 place at stake

LAGOS (AfroBasket Women 2015) - African women basketball powerhouses Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire square off in a two-game FIBA Africa Zone III qualifier on Thursday and Friday, with the prize for the winners being a place in the field for AfroBasket Women 2015.

Nigeria have reached the podium in Africa's biggest women's basketball event on four occasions (1997, 1999, 2003 and 2005), while Cote d'Ivoire have yet to get within range of winning a medal.

The 24th AfroBasket Women will take place in Yaounde, Cameroon from 24 September-3 October.

If history is anything to go by, Cote d'Ivoire have a slight edge over Nigeria.

They registered a 66-54 win when the two teams first met in the group phase at AfroBasket Women in 1981 in Dakar, Senegal. The Ivorians went on to finish fifth and the Nigerians seventh.

The trend continued in 2009 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, as Cote d'Ivoire again proved the better side with 44-41 defeat of Nigeria. The Ivorians just missed out a podium finish, coming in fourth, while the Nigerians were fifth.

In the most recent meeting between the two sides, Nigeria registered a 62-53 win in the Semi-Final Round at AfroBasket Women 2013.

However, both teams finished low enough in the final standings - Nigeria in sixth and Cote d'Ivoire in seventh - that they have to go through the rigours of qualification for Afrobasket Women 2015.

The two countries have called up some of their best players for the two games that will be played at the Palais Des Sports in Treichville, a commune of Abidjan.

Nigeria will be aiming to book their 10th appearance at AfroBasket Women, with qualifier hosts Cote d'Ivoire looking for their 12th trip.

Squads for FIBA Africa Zone III qualifier in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (4-5 June)
Nigeria: Nkem Akarawe, Nkechi Akashili, Upe Atosu, Juliet Chinyere, Adaora Elonu, Ndidi Madu, Jennifer Ndidiamaka Nwakamma, Chidimma Nwakamma, Sarah Ogoke, Helen Ogunjimi, Chioma Udeaja, Uju Ugoka.
Cote d'Ivoire: Hanna Amani, Namizata Bamba, Solange Bognini, Saran Camara, Mamiki Cisse, Tindio Dagnogo, Minata Fofana, Princesse Goubo, Awa Kamate, Mariam Kamate, Safietou Kolga, Fatoumata Kone, Mariam Kone, Adjoua Kouakou, Kani Kouyate, Mariam Kouyate, Caroline Lamoine, Massarami Meite, Affoue N'Goran, Koundia Ouattara, Karidja Traore, Tracy Youmi.

FIBA