Nigeria’s senior women national basketball team, D’Tigress, began its 2021 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title defence with a 67-50 victory against Mozambique 67-50 at the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Nigeria is in Group B alongside Mozambique and Angola, with Group A having hosts Cameroon, Cape Verde and Kenya.
D’Tigress survived an early scare to come from behind to claim victory, as Ezinne Kalu emerged as Nigeria’s top performer with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Team captain, Adara Elonu recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Ezinne Kalu (23) recorded 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists for Nigeria
Stefania Chiziane was Mozambique’s best performer with 12 points and 3 rebounds.
In the last four years, the team has emerged as the most successful team in Africa with back-to-back AfroBasket titles won in 2017 and 2019. Nigeria will face Angola on Monday.