Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will commence their preparations for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship this weekend, as players begin arriving at the national camp in Abuja.
According to updates from the team’s coordination unit, invited players from within and outside Nigeria are expected to touch down in the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend, ahead of the team’s official training camp opening early next week.
In a bid to ensure a smooth arrival process, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has already dispatched return flight tickets to all invited players and officials.
The camp, which will be held under the guidance of head coach Rena Wakama, marks the beginning of an important journey for the reigning African champions, who are chasing a record-extending fifth consecutive Afrobasket title.
D’Tigress have dominated the continental scene in recent years, winning the last four editions of the tournament — in 2017 (Mali), 2019 (Senegal), 2021 (Cameroon), and 2023 (Rwanda) — and are widely regarded as the team to beat in 2025.
“This camp will focus on fitness assessments, tactical drills, and building team chemistry,” a team source revealed. “With the bulk of the squad made up of experienced overseas-based professionals and promising local talents, we’re aiming for a strong start to our preparations.”
Head coach Rena Wakama, who made history as the first female coach to win the Afrobasket title in 2023, is expected to announce a final roster ahead of the tournament’s start date once the intensive training and evaluation phase is completed.
The 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championships scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire starting from 26th July to 3rd August 2025 where African basketball powerhouses will battle for continental supremacy.
As the countdown begins with seven days to go, all eyes will be on D’Tigress to see if they can maintain their stranglehold on African women’s basketball and continue their golden legacy.