19th Fiba AWS: Nigeria retain African cup

The Lady Tigers, who beat Mozambique in the 18th edition of the tournament in 2003 to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics, hosted this year's event and triumphed 64-57 in the final at the Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium.

The Nigerians and their fans, as well as Senegal and their supporters, were already celebrating as both had booked places for the FIBA World championship for Women in 2006 after reaching the African final.

That World Championship will be held in Brazil from September 12-23. Senegal's women had won a meeting against Nigeria earlier in the tournament, so it was not surprising the title showdown ended with such a close score.

Nigeria captain Mfon Udoka, a former WNBA player with Houston and a member of the Nigerian teams in 2003 and at the 2004 Olympics, was voted Most Valuable Player for the Africa Championship.

Udoka, the tournament's leading scorer and rebounder, hails from Portland, Oregon. She can play for Nigeria because her father, Vitalis, is a native of the country.

Udoka's brother, Ime, helped Nigeria's men capture a bronze medal at the FIBA Africa Championship earlier this year to qualify for FIBA World Championship in Japan. Senegal, runners-up to Angola at the FIBA Africa Championship, are also sending a team to the men's FIBA World Championship.

Final rankings

1. NIGERIA (Qualified for the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women)

2. SENEGAL (Qualified for the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women)

3. MOZAMBIQUE (Qualified for th 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Women)

4. RD CONGO (Qualified for th 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Women)

5. MALI

6. ANGOLA

7. CAPE VERDE

8. NIGER

9. GABON

10. TOGO

 All the results

21.12.2005:

 Mali vs Senegal 51-41

Congo vs Mozambique 60-46

Cape Verde vs Nigeria 38-96

22.12.2005

Cape Verde vs Togo 76-44

Mozambique vs Angola 52-51

Nigeria vs Senegal 55-65

Congo vs Gabon 78/75

23.12.2005

Cape Verde vs Mali 56-81

Congo vs Niger 88-40

Nigeria vs Togo 92-23

Mozambique vs Gabon 55-33

24.12.2005

Togo vs Mali 26-93

Gabon vs Niger 38-53

Senegal vs Cape Verde 77-39

Angola vs Congo 52-53

25.12.2005

Niger vs Angola 26-79

26.12.2005

Togo vs Senegal 34-74

Mozambique vs Niger 75-46

Nigeria vs Mali 64-44

Gabon vs Angola 36-63

27.12.2005

9th-10th place Gabon vs Togo 47-36

7th-8th place Niger vs Cape Verde 51-56

Semi-Final 1 Senegal vs Mozambique 66-37

Semi-Final 2 Congo vs Nigeria 66-78

28.12.2005 5th-6th place Angola vs Mali 50-55

3rd-4th place Mozambique vs Congo 59-51

Final Senegal vs Nigeria 57-64