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Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, have cemented their place in continental history after clinching a record-breaking fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship, defeating Mali 78–64 in a thrilling final played in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
This victory marks Nigeria’s seventh AfroBasket title overall and their fifth in a row, having previously won the championship in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and now 2025. With this feat, D’Tigress have become the first team in African history—male or female—to win the continental title five times consecutively.
Despite Mali drawing first blood and dominating the first quarter 26–21, Nigeria bounced back with tactical discipline, equalizing 41–41 at halftime.
They surged ahead in the third quarter (20–15) and closed the game with an emphatic 17–8 run in the final quarter.
The team’s balanced scoring, airtight defense, and cohesive play were instrumental in subduing a determined Malian side.
Led by head coach Rena Wakama, who has now guided the team to two consecutive titles, D’Tigress extended their unbeaten run in the AfroBasket tournament to 29 games, a streak that dates back to 2015.
Wakama also makes history once again as the first woman to coach Nigeria to an AfroBasket triumph, solidifying her legacy on the continent.
In a swift response to the historic win, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released a statement congratulating the team and praising their resilience, teamwork, and patriotism.
“I heartily congratulate our gallant D’Tigress for their astounding fifth consecutive victory at the Women’s AfroBasket Championship. You have once again proven that Nigerian women are not just champions—they are record-breakers and trailblazers,” the President stated.
“You have made Nigeria proud and have become a symbol of excellence and unity. Your victory is not just a win for Nigeria, but for all of Africa. You are the pride of the continent.”
President Tinubu also commended the coaching crew, the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), and sports stakeholders for their commitment to nurturing excellence in Nigerian sports.
With this victory, Nigeria has automatically qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which will take place in Berlin, Germany. The team is expected to build on its AfroBasket dominance to challenge for global glory.
Nigerians at home and abroad have taken to social media to celebrate the triumph, hailing the D’Tigress as national heroes and role models for the next generation of female athletes.
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