ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have etched their name in African sporting history once again, clinching their fifth consecutive Women’s Afrobasket title with a commanding 78–64 victory over Mali in the final held Sunday, August 3,2025, at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan.
The triumph not only reinforces Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s basketball but also secures an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
Led by coach Rena Wakama, D’Tigress overcame a slow start to dismantle a determined Malian side and extend their decade-long unbeaten run in the continental championship.
Mali burst out of the gates early, finishing the first quarter 26–21 ahead.
But the Nigerian ladies regrouped and clawed their way back into contention, drawing level at 41–41 by halftime.
The third quarter showcased D’Tigress’ signature grit and composure, outpacing the Malians to take a 61–56 lead.
In the fourth quarter, they shut the door completely—limiting Mali to just eight points and closing out the contest with a 14-point margin.
With this victory, Nigeria becomes the only nation to win five Women’s Afrobasket titles consecutively—a feat unmatched in the history of the tournament.
It also brings Nigeria’s total Afrobasket titles to seven, with earlier wins in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
D’Tigress have not lost a single game in the competition since October 2, 2015, when they fell to Cameroon.
Since then, they have built a legacy of consistency, excellence, and resilience.
Their road to this year’s final included a tough semi-final battle against Senegal, where a late surge in the final quarter helped them edge through.
Against Mali, the team showed not just skill, but championship DNA.
With the Afrobasket crown comes the honour of representing Africa at the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 in Germany.
D’Tigress will now shift their focus to preparing for the global stage, aiming to translate their continental success into a deeper run against the world’s elite.
President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Sports, and millions of fans have taken to social media to celebrate the team’s latest triumph.
