AfroBasket: Musa leads Nigeria entries for MVP Fan Vote race News

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AfroBasket: Musa leads Nigeria entries for MVP Fan Vote race

By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 1, 2025

As Africa’s top teams clash at the ongoing 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, D’Tigress stars Murjanatu Musa, Amy Okonkwo, and Ezinne Kalu have been shortlisted in the Fan Vote poll for the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 29th edition of the biennial tournament, which is currently in the knockout stages, have seen some spectacular displays and shocking results, with Uganda recording an upset victory over 11-time champions Senegal while debutants South Sudan defied the odds to reach the quarter-finals.

Also, individual stars have lit up the tournament with jaw-dropping performances, amongst which Nigeria’s D’Tigress stars including Musa, Okonkwo and Kalu have been included in a 20-player list for the MVP gong, that basketball fans will be voting for come the end of the competition on Sunday, August, 3.

Musa has been a key figure in Nigeria’s impressive run to the knockout stage, delivering consistent performances on both ends of the court. She opened her campaign with 12 points in the dominant 92–45 win over Rwanda and matched that output with another 12 points in the hard-fought 60–55 victory against Mozambique. The former Phoenix Mercury forward is currently averaging 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Okonkwo has also made a strong impression at the tournament, contributing 10 points in the opener against Rwanda and adding eight more in the narrow win over Mozambique. Meanwhile, 33-year-old veteran Ezinne Kalu brought her wealth of experience to bear, scoring seven points in the first game before stepping up with 16 points in Nigeria’s second group match.

The D’Tigress trio—Musa, Okonkwo, and Kalu—now find themselves among the standout players shortlisted in the Fan Vote poll for the Most Valuable Player award.

Joining them on the list of potential MVPs are Dulcy Fankam and Jessica Thomas of Cameroon, Egypt’s Raneem Elgewady, Rwanda’s Bella Murekatete, Senegalese duo Cierra Dillard and Ndioma Kane, Mali’s Sika Koné and Maimouna Haidara, Paige Robinson and Jane Asinde of Uganda, Masseny Kaba of Guinea, South Sudan’s Nyamer Diew, Angola’s Sara Caetano, Mozambique’s Leia Dongue and Ingvild Mucauro, as well as Molly Kaiser and Kariata Diaby of hosts Ivory Coast.

The MVP Fan Vote is not an official award from FIBA 2025 Women’s AfroBasket, it was created for fans to connect and show their support for their favorite players in the tournament.

Source Punch Ng

Posted August 1, 2025