On Nigeria’s Independence Day, Joyce Ekworomadu led them with a game-high 20 points, while Odelia Mafanela and Deolinda Ngulela combined for 34 Mozambique points.
Adaora Elonu made a lay-up with 5:45 minutes left to play and that gave Nigeria a 60-58 lead and they never trailed again.
Mozambique stepped onto the court planning on making the most of their three-point shooting. However, they hit only 5 of 29 attempts from beyond the arc.
It’s general knowledge that Nazir Sale’s team arrived in Yaounde with a shorthanded roster and that became evident as the team’s bench contributed only five points against Nigeria’s 28.
Helen Ogunjimi had officially become Nigeria’s secret weapon. She not only played aggressive defence, but the 30-year-old guard also hit two crucial three-pointers that kept Nigeria alive in the contest.
Two years ago, Mozambique upset Nigeria in the Quarter-Finals, and yesterday they were very close to repeating the feat, but Nigeria took the court in desperation mode and returned to the tournament’s Semi-Finals for the first time since 2011.
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