By Toby Prince
Nigeria on Saturday put up a dominant performance in the final quarter to finish third at the AfroBasket Women 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Star performer, Joyce Ekworomadu, paced Nigeria with a team-high 15 points as they kept their Olympic hopes alive with a 65-55 victory over Angola.
Ekworomadu scored six crucial points, including a three-pointer, in the third quarter to keep the two-time African champions in the contest.
After losing to Angola in the Group Phase, D’Tigress showed a lot more determination to win the contest.
Following a heartbreaking 71-70 semi-final defeat to hosts Cameroon, Scott Nnaji team’s stepped on floor to do whatever was necessary to keep their Olympic dreams alive.
Sonia Guadalupe hit three-pointers to lead Angola with 13 points but they finished out of the podium for the first time since 2005.
With the victory, Nigeria clinched the last spot available for the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament to be played next year.
In the final match, Senegal defeated host, Cameroon, 81-66 to clinch their 11th African title.
Senegal as champions qualify automatically for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, while second and third placed Cameroon and Nigeria will slug it out with other nations at FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.
