Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have been crowned champions of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, following a commanding victory over Mali in the final on Sunday at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Under the leadership of head coach Rena Wakama, D’Tigress secured their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title, becoming the first country in history to achieve such a feat in both Men’s or women’s tournament.
The win further extends their unbeaten run in the competition to a decade—a streak that began after their last loss on October 2, 2015, against Cameroon, 28 wins in 28 games.
A Game of Two Halves
The final proved to be a tale of resilience and tactical superiority. Mali edged the first quarter 26–21 and posed a strong challenge early on. However, Nigeria battled back to draw level at 41–41 by halftime.
D’Tigress came out firing in the third quarter, gaining momentum to establish a 61–56 lead by the end of the period. The fourth quarter showcased their championship mettle, as they tightened up defensively and restricted Mali to just eight points while pulling away for a 14-point victory.
Back-to-Back Glory for Coach Rena Wakama
The triumph also marks a significant milestone for Rena Wakama, who becomes a two-time AfroBasket-winning coach in just two tournaments. She made history in 2023 as the first woman to lead a team to AfroBasket gold, and has now reinforced her legacy by guiding Nigeria to another title in 2025.
A Decade of Continental Dominance
D’Tigress’ sustained excellence over the past ten years underscores their status as the undisputed queens of African women’s basketball.
Their latest triumph adds to previous wins in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023, confirming their decade-long continental dominance.
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