(D'Tigress in celebration mood after securing their passage into the quarterfinals of cup competition)

Nigeria's 57-56 narrow win over Greece in the qualification game of the ongoing FIBA Women's World Cup, earned the team a place in the last eight of competition for the first time ever, with an awaited tie against USA.

 It was D'Tigress' third straight victory at the basketball event and such performance has never been achieved before by any African nation.

After losing to Australia 68-88 in their opener, the African champions bounced back with two emphatic victories; 74-68 over Turkey and 75-70 against South American champions Argentina.

Prior to those two wins, D'Tigress secured a quarter final play-off tie with Greece who finished third in Group A, after the Hellenics suffered two defeats in the hands of France and Canada before registering one win over Korea Republic.

Coach Otis Hugley and his girls faced a tense and disputed first quarter of the game, in which both teams ended up tied at 15-15 but Nigeria took advantage of the second and third periods of the match by winning respectively 16-11 and 17-11.

The fourth quarter was to be very nervous, with veteran Evanthia Maltsi leading her Greek side to a 19-9 win but was not enough to seal victory and qualification to the next round for the team who finished fourth in the last Eurobasket held in Czech republic in 2017.

Besiktas player Evelyn Akhtator was Nigeria's most valuable player of the game with an impressive double-digit of 14 points and 13 rebounds recorded over the total of 14.10 minutes she spent on the playing ground.

21-year-old Greek center-forward Maria Fasoula on her part posted another double-digit of 18 points and 12 rebounds for her team.

With this qualification to the quarter final, D'tigress will be facing the United States of America who are the defending champions of the competition and Gold medalists of the last 2016 Rio Olympics.

Quarterfinal ties (Friday, September 28)

 • Nigeria Vs USA

• Canada Vs Spain (hosts)

• Australia Vs China

• Belgium Vs France

Like, Follow us on Facebook and Twitter