A win could see the Nigerian team handled by Scott Nnaji finish as group B leaders provided the defending champions, Angola fail to beat Guinea today.
However, Angola, Egypt and Nigeria, among other countries will certainly make it to the quarter-finals of the competition based on their exploits so far.
As of the time of this report, D’Tigress are third on the table with five points as the outcome of their fourth group game against Senegal was being awaited.
Angola is leading the pack with seven points from four games followed by Egypt also with the same number of points. Egypt had on Monday created another upset in the competition with their 53-52 win over Angola.
D’Tigress given their pedigree according to bookmakers, would have an easy ride over their Algerian counterparts who have lost all their matches so far in the competition.
Meanwhile, D’Tigress star, Olayinka Sanni has described the presence of legendary Mfo Udoka in their camp as a morale booster.
Udoka, 39, who inspired Nigeria to its two consecutive wins so far (2003 and 2005) is in Yaounde to energise the glory seeking D’Tigress who are aiming at the third title.
“For me, Udoka has been like my role model. When I came in, in my first year to play in 2006 she was there and she was kind of my mentor as we played the same position. And she helped me along the way. She gave us hope that we can play for our country and play professionally.
“She has been a great inspiration for Nigeria’s women basketball and we look up to her.
“We are happy that she is here to give us support, and hopefully one day she will be along the sideline coaching us,” she told fiba.com.
Sanni who has played in the WNBA alongside Joyce Ekworomadu stated that their ultimate target remains how to make Nigeria return to the 2016 Olympics.
“For us, we just to want try one more time to help our country to get to the Olympics.
“Personally, I have been there (World Championship 2006). It’s just this one thing that we want to help lead Nigeria and the kids that are coming up. This is a great way to show that we are role models for them. For us, it’s just about play hard and help Nigeria where they want to be,” Sanni who is seeking her first AfroBasket title said.
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