After being named the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket’s Most Valuable Player, D’Tigress forward Amy Okonkwo is honoured.
On Saturday in Kigali, Rwanda, Nigeria defeated Senegal 84-74 to win the Women’s AfroBasket championship, and Okonkwo was a major factor in that victory.
With the victory, Nigeria became the second team to consecutively win four FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championships.
Along with Tamara Seda (Mozambique), Cierra Dillard (Senegal), Jannon Otto (Uganda), Sika Kone (Mali), and Okonkwo, the All-Star Tournament team was led by Okonkwo.
Okonkwo established himself as the centre of the D’Tigress throughout Nigeria’s undefeated (5-0) run in the capital of Rwanda, Kigali, averaging a team-high 17.2 points while chipping in 8.2 rebounds each game.
She eventually became the first Nigerian (Murjanatu Musa had one) to record two double-doubles.
The 26-year-old said, “We have a coach who believes in us,” in response to receiving MVP awards. It encourages us to persevere through hardship.
“Therefore, we were aware that we controlled our fate. We were aware that we had to act and stick together, even after Senegal returned, and we succeeded. I was performing in Mexico this past summer, so I’m grateful for the chance to lead here. I also got the chance to be the team’s leader.
“I reminded myself that I hadn’t travelled to Kigali in order to lose anything. A tremendous honour is being named MVP.
Rena Wakama won the Women’s AfroBasket championship as a result of Nigeria’s victory, making her the first female head coach to do so.
“We were behind Mozambique by 10 or 12 points. They said, “Coach, we’re not going to lose this game,” and I looked into their eyes. And they rallied to triumph,” the coach said.
“That was the turning point in my life. It’s been a challenging year for me. This trophy was the largest of all of them, and I asked God for a sign.
Exactly 20 years after their first victory in Africa, in Maputo, Mozambique in 2003, D’Tigress have won their sixth continental championship.
