Nigeria’s D’Tigresses on Tuesday continued their impressive run at the ongoing AfroBasket Women in Yaoundé, Cameroon with a 79-49 blowout of Algeria.
The win was the fourth in a row for Scott Nnaji’s girls, who lost their opening game of the championship to reigning champions Angola, but now head into the tournament’s final phase as the top team in Group B.
Adaora Elonu and Nkechi Akashili both scored 15 points to emerge as the game’s leading scorers, while Helen Ogunjimi added 11 points. The Spain-based Elonu also had a game high seven steals.
Edema Edeferioka scored five points and collected 10 rebounds;
Sarah Nemmouchi was the only Algerian to hit double digits as she finished with a team-high 13 points.
After trailing for the entire opening quarter, Nemmouchi gave Algeria a shock 18-16 lead, but Nigeria’s Olayinka Sanni, who finished the game with seven points, ensured Nigeria closed the half ahead 30-21.
The Nigerians continued their dominance in the third quarter, outscoring the Algerians 24-8, and ended up recording a 30-point margin victory – their second biggest margin of victory at the championship.
Nigeria’s biggest victory margin came in the 53-point blowout of Guinea in last Sunday’s 100-47 win. They also defeated Egypt (97-68), and Senegal (75-64).
Tuesday’s win also ensured that Nigeria, two-time former winners of the championship, finished top of Group B ahead of Angola and will on Thursday play the fourth-placed team in Group A in the quarterfinals.
The eventual winners of the AfroBasket Women will represent Africa at the basketball event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Nigeria’s male team, D’Tigers, have already secured a slot at next year’s Olympics after emerging winners of the AfroBasket Men in Tunisia.
