D'Tigresses Okonkwo is the MVP of the 2023 Women's AfroBasket Championship

Aug 6, 2023 - 08:39

D'Tigresses Amy Okonkwo has played a huge role in helping Nigeria clinch the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket (their fourth in a row), and, as a result, the 26-year-old was named the MVP of the tournament.

Okonkwo headlined the All-Tournament team alongside Cierra Dillard (Senegal), Jannon Otto (Uganda), Sika Kone (Mali), and Tamara Seda (Mozambique).

Amy Okonkwo

Throughout Nigeria's unbeaten run (5-0) in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Okonkwo emerged as the heart and soul

of the D'Tigresses, averaging a team-high of 17.2 points while contributing 8.2 rebounds per game.

Along the way, Okonkwo became the only Nigeria to register two double-doubles (Murjanatu Musa registered one).

Cierra Dillard

Dillard was a breath of fresh air for Senegal. She experienced some ups and downs throughout the tournament, but when the Lionesses needed her most in the knock-out stages, Dillard delivered.

For instance, after a two-point performance against Egypt, coach Moustapha Gaye benched her, but Gaye's decision fuelled Dillard who responded with 29 points off the bench in an 80-77 Quarter-Finals win over Cameroon.

And when Senegal met Mali in the Semi-Finals, Dillard felt it was the right time to shine again. She finished 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists as Senegal halted Mali's unbeaten run with the 85-75 Semi-Finals victory.

At the end of the tournament, Dillard finished with a total of 124 points from six games.

Dillard led Senegal in scoring with 20.7 points and 5.5 assists per game while spending a team-high 33.7 minutes per game.

Jannon Otto

There is no question about Otto's contribution to Uganda's campaign.

The 26-year-old was to go-to player for the Gazelles, and it came as no surprise that Otto won the top scorer award of the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket.

In six Uganda games, Otto accrued a tournament-high 128 points.

In addition to her 21.3 points per game, Otto averaged 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists in 35 minutes per game.

SIka Kone

Sika Kone missed Mali's opening game, but she made an instant impact in her debut and never stopped for the remaining four games, averaging 12.5 points per contest.

Tamara Seda

Seda turned out as Mozambique's most productive player in the tournament averaging 12 points and 11.8 points rebounds per game.

Although Angolan Cristina Matiquite averaged 13 rebounds per game, Seda played two more games than Matiquite.

Awards:

Top rebounder: Tamara Seda;

Best Three-Pointer: Taiwo Olaluwatomi

Best Scorer: Jannon Otto

Fair Play: Rwanda

Final Standings: