Nigeria’s D’Tigress continued their reign as the undisputed queens of African basketball on Sunday, clinching a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title with a dominant 78–64 victory over Mali in Abidjan.
While the win marked Nigeria’s seventh overall AfroBasket championship, the closing ceremony also served as a celebration of individual brilliance across the continent.
At the heart of it was Nigeria’s Amy Okonkwo, who was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second consecutive tournament. The dynamic forward capped off an outstanding campaign with 19 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in the final, powering Nigeria’s title defence with a mix of finesse, power, and leadership.
Though no official award was presented for Best Coach, there was no shortage of praise for Rena Wakama, who guided Nigeria to back-to-back titles in her first two appearances—an unprecedented feat in the tournament’s history. Her tactical acumen and composure have quickly established her as one of Africa’s elite coaching minds.
The All-Tournament Team (All-Star Five) reflected the growing depth and quality of talent on the continent:
Amy Okonkwo (Nigeria), Cierra Dillard (Senegal), Delicia Washington (South Sudan). Jane Asinde (Uganda), Sika Koné (Mali).
Other individual award winners included:
Top Scorer: Delicia Washington (South Sudan), Best Three-Point Shooter: Jessica Thomas (Cameroon), Best Rebounder: Maria Teresa Gakdeng (South Sudan).
Nigeria’s seventh title brings them within striking distance of Senegal’s record of eleven, further cementing their legacy as a dominant force in African women’s basketball.
With a new generation of stars and a winning culture deeply ingrained, D’Tigress now turn their focus toward global competitions, including Olympic and World Cup qualifiers, with momentum firmly on their side.