Nigeria’s African Champions D’Tigress lost their second classification game 73-72 to Canada to finish 8th place at the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Tenerife, Spain on Sunday.
D’Tigress had lost their first classification game to France 24 hours earlier and desired to finish on high but were pegged back by world number 5, Canada.
Atonye Nyigifa had a team high 17 points and 5 rebounds; Evelyn Akhator recorded her fourth double-double of the competition, 13 points and 11 rebounds and 2 assists to go with it. Ezinne Kalu added 13 points and 4 assists while Adaora Elonu had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
Nigeria went behind in the first quarter 21-17 but returned stronger in the second quarter 18-9 taking a 5 point lead at half time (30-35).
The D’Tigress however surrendered the lead with 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter (62-61) and efforts made to chase the game proved abortive in the end.
Kia Nurse scored 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Marie Langlois had 14 points while Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for Canada.
Nigeria finished with a 3-4 record in Spain, won 3 straight games against Turkey, Argentina and Greece and lost 4 which came against Australia in their World Cup opener, quarter-final against USA and classification games against France and Canada.
Nigeria’s 8th place finish at the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup is the best ever achieved by an African team.
