AfroBasket 2025 | Semifinal Results
- Senegal 68-75 Nigeria
- Mali 76-50 South Sudan
Sunday Fixtures | EAT
- 3rd Place: Senegal vs. South Sudan – 5:30 pm
- Finals: Nigeria vs. Mali – 9:00 pm
In what was dubbed “a final before the final”, defending champions Nigeria overcame Senegal,75-68, in the semifinals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket on Saturday night.
Playing in front of a packed-to-capacity Palais des Sports de Treichville, the two continental heavyweights traded leads with D’Tigress having the last say to qualify for a fifth consecutive championship game.
Senegal, backed by the majority of the fans in the arena, started the game on the front foot with 6 unanswered points before Nigeria took charge later, eventually edging the quarter 22-17.
Nigeria’s ascendence continued into the second quarter, extending the lead to 9 points on a couple of occasions, but Victorine Thiaw’s triple at the halftime buzzer kept Senegal in the contest.
In the third quarter, point guard Cierra Dillard took charge, fueling Senegal into an 8-point lead before it was cut down to 6 by Ifunanya Okoro from the line heading into the final quarter.
Ezinne Kalu sparked Nigeria’s comeback in the fourth quarter, with the 2023 MVP Amy Okonkwo coming to life when it mattered most, while Promise Amukamara hit clutch free throws that helped D’Tigress to victory.
Kalu netted a team-high 19 points to go with 6 boards to lead Nigeria. Amukamara (16), Okonkwo (15) and Victoria Macaulay (13) also scored in double figures for Nigeria.
Dillard poured in a game-high 26 points and pulled down 9 rebounds in the lone fight. Ndioma Kane scored a quiet 14 points and was the only other Senegal player to reach double figures.
In the finals, Nigeria will face Mali, who blew away debutants South Sudan, in the other semifinal.
Nigeria has won the last four championships, including beating Mali in the 2021 final.