Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – August 3, 2025
Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have made history by clinching their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, defeating Mali 78–64 at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan. With this victory, the nation celebrates its seventh overall AfroBasket championship .
Their dominant run included pivotal wins over Cameroon in the quarterfinals, a thrilling 75–68 semi‑final comeback against Senegal—dubbed “the final before the final”—and a commanding performance in the finals to seal the crown .
Highlights:
Victory over Mali: 78–64, confirming their continental supremacy .
Seventh straight win over Senegal came via the semi-final comeback, boosting their undefeated streak to 28 wins in AfroBasket since 2015 .
Head Coach Rena Wakama, the first woman to lead D’Tigress, received special commendation for her leadership and tactical brilliance .
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued August 3 by his Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, extended heartfelt congratulations:
> “I have observed the discipline, focus and team spirit consistently displayed by D’Tigress—qualities that have brought honour to our nation and earned global respect… Be assured of my unwavering support as you pursue your historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket title” .
Alongside Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu echoed national pride, describing the D’Tigress as “true inspirations and pride to girls and women in general,” and prayed for continued success in the final match .
Notable Rewards and Recognition:
Qualification secured for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament in Berlin .
President Tinubu conferred the national honour Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and 11 technical crew members.
Each player received the naira equivalent of $100,000, and technical team members $50,000. All were granted three-bedroom apartments in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Estate .
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AfroBasket Title Tally – D’Tigress
Year Championship Title #
2003 AfroBasket Women 1st
2005 AfroBasket Women 2nd
2017 AfroBasket Women 3rd
2019 AfroBasket Women 4th
2021 AfroBasket Women 5th
2023 AfroBasket Women 6th
2025 AfroBasket Women 7th
The 2025 victory marks an unprecedented fivepeat (2017–2025)—a record unmatched in African women’s basketball history .
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With this monumental win, D’Tigress, under the exceptional leadership of Coach Rena Wakama, have not only emulated but surpassed African basketball greatness, cementing their legacy at the pinnacle of women’s basketball on the continent.
Let me know if you’d like player stats, quotes, or additional background detail on their path to glory!
