AfroBasket 2025: D’Tigress Must “Throw the First Punch” Against Senegal, Says Kalu

China-based female basketball star, Ezinne Kalu, a veteran player in Nigeria’s current women’s national team, D’Tigress, has admitted that she and her colleagues must ‘wake up’ in order to overcome Senegal this Saturday in the AfroBasket 2025 semi-finals.

Sports247 reports that the game at Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire is bound to be really explosive, as Senegal, with 11 titles, are the most successful team in the women’s AfroBasket history.

The Senegalese overcame host country Cote d’Ivoire 66-60 to set up a crunch battle with Nigeria, who are the defending champions and have won the competition’s past four editions, while also having earlier won two on the trot before losing another couple.

Although D’Tigress looked formidable in their 83-47 victory over Cameroon in Thursday’s quarter-final fixture, Kalu admitted that they are yet to hit top rhythm at the ongoing competition, which is officially known as African Women’s Senior Basketball Championship.

The 33-year-old Zhejiang Golden Bulls of China point guard declared emphatically, “Nigeria, wake up! We have great players in Nigerian basketball, and we can definitely do a lot better.

“We made mistakes in our first game and the second one, but that’s not to deter us. We always go in and do what we do best.”

Ezinne then looked into the technical aspect for Saturday’s crunch clash, as Senegal have a former coach of D’Tigress, Otis Hughley, in charge of their squad; but the AfroBasket 2019 most valuable player believes Nigeria’s gaffer, Rena Wakama, has better winning tactics.

“The coach will bring us together, and we’re going to watch films of past games. We’ll then practise, fix our mistakes, and work to meet up for the semi-finals. After that, we’ll plan for the final; but it’s one push at a time,” posted Ezinne Kalu.

Incidentally, the former Atlanta Dream of USA star, who has played for 11 different teams in her storied basketball career, is seeking a fourth AfroBasket title (haven been part of the winning squads of 2017, 2019 and 2021).

She also wants to help D’Tigress make history as the first squad to win five straight titles by clinching gold at this year’s competition in Abidjan.

That would give Nigeria seven titles overall, but still way behind Senegal, who hold a daunting record of 11 conquests under their feet.

Ironically, the winner of Saturday’s clash may have an easier hurdle in the grand finale, where they will meet the victor between Mali and South Sudan, who lock horns same day in the second semi-final of AfroBasket 2025.

Sports247.ng