Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has once again proven its dominance on the African stage after defeating Mali to win the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket championship.
The victory, secured at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday, marks their fifth consecutive title, setting a new continental record for the most back-to-back championships in the tournament’s history.
Led by Coach Rena Wakama, the Nigerian side staged a remarkable comeback after trailing Mali in the first quarter. The game, which ended 70–56 in Nigeria’s favour, was a display of grit, strategy and defensive brilliance.
Mali had taken a 26–21 lead at the end of the first quarter and matched D’Tigress at halftime with a 41–41 tie. But the Nigerian team responded fiercely, outscoring Mali in the third quarter and shutting them down in the fourth, where they allowed only eight points.
Reacting after the historic win, Wakama said, “I’m incredibly proud of these ladies. This is not just about basketball. It’s about making a statement. We’ve shown that Nigeria is not just competing – we are leading.”
Wakama has now secured two titles in two consecutive editions, having made history herself in 2023 as the first female coach to guide a team to an Afrobasket win.
The last time D’Tigress lost a game in the tournament was ten years ago, on October 2, 2015, against Cameroon. Since then, they have remained unbeaten in Afrobasket competition — a record unmatched on the continent.
Also speaking after the final whistle, team captain Sarah Ogoke described the win as “a victory for all Nigerian women.” She said, “We’ve worked hard for this moment. Every sprint, every injury, every sacrifice – it’s all worth it. We’ve made history together.”
Sunday’s triumph comes on the heels of a tough semi-final encounter against Senegal, where D’Tigress had to dig deep to pull off a narrow win.
