Nigeria’s Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Women’s Basketball Club moved closer to securing a place in the 2026 FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League final tournament in Cairo after recording a commanding 77-46 victory over Liberia’s Flames Female Basketball Club in Monrovia.
The Nigerian champions produced an impressive performance at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium on Thursday night, winning all four quarters to secure their second consecutive victory in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers.
Nicknamed the Folashade Olukoya Queens, MFM demonstrated their superiority from the opening tip, combining disciplined attacking play with an aggressive defensive display to overwhelm the home side.
The Nigerians established an early advantage in the first quarter, scoring 20 points against Flames’ 11 to take a nine-point lead.
MFM maintained their momentum in the second quarter, tightening their defence and restricting the Liberian side to just eight points while adding 16 of their own to extend the advantage to 36-19 at half-time.
The third quarter proved even more difficult for the hosts as MFM continued to control proceedings, limiting Flames to seven points while scoring another 16 to take a commanding 52-26 lead into the final period.
Although Flames showed some improvement in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in front of their home supporters, MFM refused to ease off. The Nigerian champions responded with 25 points to complete an emphatic 77-46 victory, finishing 31 points clear.
Captain Ukamaka Okoh led the Nigerian side with an impressive 13 points, two rebounds and one assist, delivering another influential performance for the reigning domestic champions.
Veteran forward Regina Iornumbe also made a significant contribution, recording 10 points and a team-high six steals, while Marvis Hembam finished with nine points and nine assists.
Dalphne Olugbagho and Yakhira Buzugbe added seven points each as MFM showcased their attacking depth and collective strength.
The victory followed their impressive 59-36 opening-day triumph over fellow Nigerian representatives First Bank Basketball Club, giving MFM two wins from two matches in the Monrovia qualifiers.
Their latest result further strengthens their position in the race for qualification to the continental final tournament in Cairo, Egypt, scheduled for December 11 to 20, 2026.
MFM entered the competition with considerable confidence after an unbeaten campaign in the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League, where they defeated First Bank 66-64 in a closely contested final to claim the Nigerian championship.
The Folashade Olukoya Queens are now looking to translate their domestic dominance into continental success as they pursue another major milestone in Nigerian women’s basketball.
However, the qualification battle is not over, with the top two teams from the Zone 3 qualifiers earning tickets to the final tournament in Egypt.
With two victories already secured, MFM have given themselves an excellent opportunity to progress, but maintaining their concentration and consistency in the remaining fixtures will be crucial.
Their performances in Monrovia have so far demonstrated why they remain among the teams to watch in the competition, with their defensive discipline, scoring ability and experienced leadership providing a strong foundation for their continental ambitions.
