By Oluwatobiloba Adeoye
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire | Sunday 3, 2025
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history on Sunday night after defeating a spirited Malian side 78–64 to claim their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title—an unprecedented feat on the continent.
The gripping final, played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, saw the Nigerian ladies overcome early struggles to assert their dominance and rewrite the tournament’s record books.
With this latest triumph, Nigeria became the first team in Women’s AfroBasket history to win five straight championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and now 2025). They also extended their incredible unbeaten run in the tournament to 29 consecutive games, a streak that dates back to their third-place victory at the 2015 edition in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The team has now gone a full decade without a single defeat in AfroBasket competition.
Tip-off was at 6:00 p.m. local time, and the match opened with Mali displaying high energy, causing D’Tigress to start sluggishly. By the end of the first quarter, the Nigerians were trailing, unable to fully find their rhythm. But head coach Rena Wakama—the first female coach to lead a team to the AfroBasket title—rallied her players.
By halftime, Nigeria had clawed back into the game, tying Mali 41–41, setting the stage for a tense second half.
In the third and fourth quarters, the experience and depth of the Nigerian bench began to tell. Amy Okonkwo, Promise Amukamara, and Elizabeth Balogun delivered crucial baskets, while Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah controlled the boards, helping D’Tigress break away from their West African rivals.
Nigeria outscored Mali 37–23 in the second half, sealing the win and their place in the history books.
An elated Coach Wakama, speaking after the match, described the victory as “a reward for discipline, hard work, and belief.”
“This team showed why Nigeria is the powerhouse of African women’s basketball. Every time we’re challenged, we rise higher,” she said.
FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave presented the championship trophy to the team amid cheers from supporters, dignitaries, and officials.
Having conquered Africa, D’Tigress now turn their eyes toward global competitions, including the upcoming Olympic qualifiers and FIBA World Cup events. With youth, experience, and momentum on their side, they remain a beacon of inspiration for women’s sports in Nigeria and across the continent.
As Nigeria continues to set the pace, basketball fans at home and abroad have every reason to celebrate—D’Tigress are not just champions. They are history-makers.
