The hope of Nigeria women's senior national basketball team, D'Tigress to rule the continent again was dashed on Friday night as they lost 71-70 to Cameroon in the semi-final of the ongoing 2015 AfroBasket Women championship in Yaounde.

Nigeria, winner of the 2003 and 2005 editions fought gallantly to subdue the hosts as they led the first quarter 23-15 while both sides were tied on 36 points at the end of the second quarter.

The Scott Nnaji-piloted side gave the Cameroonians a fight till the last whistle as the score stood at 68-69 in favour of the hosts with 88 seconds left, while D'Tigress struggled in vain in the last 17 seconds to stop Cameroon who were leading 71-70.

Prior to the loss, the Nigerian team had only lost once in the ongoing competition to Angola before winning five consecutive games to land in the semi-final.

The D'Tigress will however, have the opportunity to feature at the 2016 Olympics if they win on Saturday in a battle for the bronze, as the second and third placed teams at Yaounde 2015 will take part in the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament next summer.

Meanwhile, Cameroon will face the winner between 10-time champions, Senegal and the defending champions, Angola on Saturday where the eventual winner will secure direct qualification ticket to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

Source: Nigerian Tribune