D’Tigress of Nigeria have etched their name in history as they claimed the championship title at the 2025 Women’s Afrobasket in Cote d’Ivoire. Under the leadership of coach Rena Wakama, the Nigerian team triumphed over Mali with a score of 78-64 in the final, held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan on Sunday.
This victory marks a significant milestone, making Nigeria the first and only country to win the Women’s Afrobasket title five consecutive times.
In addition to their championship victory, D’Tigress secured an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
The road to the final was not without its challenges. Nigeria faced a tough semi-final against Senegal, where they narrowly advanced thanks to a spirited fourth-quarter performance.
The final against Mali presented a contrasting narrative. Although the Malians took an early lead, ending the first quarter at 26-21, Nigeria quickly leveled the playing field, tying the score at 41 by halftime.
The third quarter showcased the true prowess of D’Tigress, as they surged ahead to a 61-56 lead by the end of the period. In the final quarter, Nigeria’s defense stifled the Malians, limiting them to just eight points, allowing D’Tigress to secure a comfortable 14-point victory.
With this latest triumph, D’Tigress have now won a total of seven Women’s Afrobasket titles and remain unbeaten in the competition over the last decade. Their last loss in the tournament was on October 2, 2015, against Cameroon.
Nigeria first claimed the Women’s Afrobasket title in 2003 and followed it up with a second win in the subsequent edition. Remarkably, D’Tigress have now dominated all five Afrobasket tournaments held since 2017.
