The Nigeria U18 Women Basketball team, J’Tigress has recorded a big upset at the FIBA U18 Afrobasket going on in South Africa after they stunned the reigning silver medalists, Egypt 66-51 victory to reach the Semis, Sports 247 reports.
Nigeria, who qualified for the Last Eight as one of the two best third-place finishers from the Group Phase were perfect from the start, against the undefeated and highly formidable Egyptian side.
Abigail Isaac who top scored for the side, led the Nigeria assault on Egypt with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Idubamo who dropped 13 was crucial for her side as she gave 7 assists, as did Wandoo Marvis.
Nigeria led 6-1 and again at 11-03, a start that spelled doom for Moustafa Atef Hadhood’s Egypt eho struggled from then on. A first quarter score of 24-13 was far from what was expected from the silver medalists against a side that qualified as one of the two best third-placed finishers.
Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu’s charges kept pulling away in the second quarter, making it a 13-point game half way through the quarter at 32-19.
The North Africans tried to keep things close with a 13-10 quarter but the first quarter damage was proving a nightmare to repair.
Doyinsola Lijirin got action going in the second half with a layup 26 seconds in for Nigeria clearly not how Egypt would have wanted to begin the period. Beggi and Momoluwa Ayomide Tewogbade (13) knocked down three-pointers each, Haya Alhalawany pulling one back for 46-30.
After losing their first encounter to Egypt, Nigeria came up with a bold for the Quarter-Finals match
A 17-13 outcome in the third saw the Nigerians carry the massive advantage to the final quarter.
Despite fighting to take the final quarter 15-12, it was too little too late for the Pharaohs to turn the match around for victory, a sweet revenge for the team.
Nigeria will now face Uganda in the Semis, on Friday by 2 pm. Uganda stopped Tunisia in another Quarter final match, 69-53 to advance to the Semis as
Resty Nanangwe once again top scoring with 27 points.
While Mali will face Cameroon in the second Semi final on Friday to determine the finalists.
