AfroBasket MVP award thrills Okonkwo

<p>D’Tigress forward Amy Okonkwo feels honoured after being named the Most Valuable Player of the just-concluded 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, The PUNCH reports.</p>, <p>Okonkwo played a huge role in helping Nigeria clinch the Women’s AfroBasket title after beating Senegal 84-74 in the final on Saturday in Kigali, Rwanda.</p>, <p>The victory means Nigeria became the second team to win four FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles in a row.</p>, <p>Okonkwo headlined the All-Star Tournament team alongside Cierra Dillard (Senegal), Jannon Otto (Uganda), Sika Kone (Mali) and Tamara Seda (Mozambique).</p>, <p>Throughout Nigeria’s unbeaten run (5-0) in the Rwandan capital Kigali, Okonkwo emerged as the heart and soul of D’Tigress, averaging a team-high of 17.2 points while contributing 8.2 rebounds per game.</p>, <p>Along the way, she became the only Nigerian to register two double-doubles (Murjanatu Musa registered one).</p>, <p>Reacting to her MVP awards, the 26-year-old said, “We have a coach that believes in us. It has us fighting till the end, even in adversity.</p>, <p>“So, we knew we had our destiny in our hands. Even when Senegal came back, we knew we had to step up, to keep together and we made it happen. I was playing in Mexico this summer, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to come and lead. And I had the opportunity to lead the team.</p>, <p>“I told myself that I was not coming to Kigali to lose anything. And being MVP is a huge honour.”</p>, <p>Nigeria’s success also meant Rena Wakama became the first female head coach to win a Women’s AfroBasket title.</p>, <p>“Against Mozambique, we were down by 10 or 12 points. I looked into their eyes, and they told me: “Coach, we’re not going to lose this game..”.. And they came back to win,” the coach said.</p>, <p>“That was the defining moment for me. It has been a long year for me. I asked God for a sign, and this trophy was the biggest of them all.”</p>, <p>D’Tigress’ sixth continental title comes exactly 20 years after their very first African conquest in 2003 in Map