The result not only ended Nigeria’s hopes of advancing to the semifinals but also served as a form of revenge for Senegal, whose women’s team fell to Nigeria’s D’Tigresses in the Afrobasket final last month.
The clash began on even terms, with both teams trading baskets in a high-tempo first quarter. Nigeria edged it 24-23, showing early signs they could control the contest. But Senegal turned the tide in the second quarter, coming out with sharp shooting and tight defense to outscore the Nigerians 30-18, taking a commanding 53-42 lead into halftime.
Things worsened for the D’Tigers after the break. The third quarter proved to be a nightmare, with Senegal extending their dominance by another 10 points at 23-13. Although Nigeria showed spirit in the fourth quarter—winning it 20-15—it was too little, too late as Senegal closed out a convincing 91-75 victory.
Senegal’s Brancou Badio was the undisputed star of the night, pouring in 32 points with a 29 percent efficiency rate, leading the offensive charge. For Nigeria, however, the evening was defined by the struggles of their NBA star Josh Okogie. The Phoenix Suns guard, who had exploded for 33 points in an earlier group game, was kept in check and limited to just four points.
Despite the setback, Nigeria still holds a narrow edge in the historical rivalry, leading Senegal 5-4 in head-to-head meetings. But this latest defeat will sting for the D’Tigers, who entered the tournament with high expectations.
With the win, Senegal advance to the semifinals, underlining their intent to reclaim continental supremacy, while Nigeria is left to regroup and reflect on what went wrong.