Nigeria’s Junior Tigress are through to the final of the U-18 Afrobasket championship in Pretoria, South Africa, after defeating Uganda in Friday’s semi-final.

The Nigerian side played the game of their lives to beat Uganda by 71-67.

Both teams had met in the group stage with the Ugandans winning by 80 points to 64.

The win also means Nigeria picked one of the two automatic tickets from Africa to represent the continent at next year’s FIBA U-19 World Cup in Czech Republic.

Also, they will take on Mali in the final of the tournament billed for Saturday, September 14.

The Malians outclassed Cameroon by 103 to 45 points win to progress into the final.

Also, the Malians are the current champions and will be gunning for a record-extending ninth title.

For the Nigerian team they will be targeting a first-ever continental title having finished as runners-up once.