Title contenders Nigeria and Senegal have scored big wins in the opening round of games at the 2019 FIBA Women’s African Basketball Championship (AfroBasket).
Defending champions Nigeria registered a 75-26 win over Tunisia while host nation Senegal recorded a 77-36 win over Ivory Coast.
Senegal’s win was witnessed by 12,000 fans-one of the largest in the competition’s history- including Minnesota Timberwolves Forward/Center Gorgui Dieng.
The two nations played in the final game at the 2017 edition and impressed at last year’s World Cup with Nigeria making history as the first African side to play in the quarterfinals.
Senegal’s Astou Traore was named Most Player of the game after scoring 19 points and adding eight rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes.
Nigeria’s Evelyn Akhator produced 13 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in just 15 minutes as the 2017 Champions made light work of the North Africans.
Both countries confirmed their status as favorites to win the title after Angola lost 63-71 to Mali in the opening round and needs a win tonight against DR Congo to stand a chance of progressing from Group C.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
