Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, etched their name into African sporting history by clinching their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, defeating Mali 78–64 in a thrilling final at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
With this victory, D’Tigress became the first team ever to win five straight AfroBasket titles, extending their unbeaten run to 29 games—a streak that dates back to 2015.
Match Highlights: Nigeria vs Mali Final
| Quarter | Score |
| Q1 | Mali 26 – Nigeria 21 |
| Q2 | Nigeria rallies to tie 41–41 |
| Q3 | Nigeria edges ahead 61–56 |
| Q4 | Nigeria seals victory 78–64 |
- Ezinne Kalu led all scorers with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists
- Amy Okonkwo added 19 points and 9 rebounds, earning Tournament MVP honors
- Victoria Macaulay hit a clutch three-pointer in the final minute to seal the win
- Mali’s Sika Koné posted 16 points and 13 rebounds in a valiant effort
Tactical Brilliance Under Rena Wakama
Head coach Rena Wakama, the first female to lead D’Tigress to an AfroBasket title (2023), repeated the feat in 2025 with tactical precision and calm leadership. Her game plan focused on:
- Neutralizing Mali’s transition offense
- Protecting the paint
- Rotating depth players like Murjanatu Musa and Promise Amukamara, who combined for 22 points and 10 rebounds
“We got punched in the face a little bit, but we dug down and were able to get those ups,” Wakama said post-match.
Nigeria’s AfroBasket Legacy
| Year | Title |
| 2003 | Champions |
| 2005 | Champions |
| 2017 | Champions |
| 2019 | Champions |
| 2021 | Champions |
| 2023 | Champions |
| 2025 | Champions |
D’Tigress now hold seven AfroBasket titles, cementing their status as the most dominant team in African women’s basketball.
Road to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup
With this win, Nigeria has qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers, to be hosted in Germany. They’ll be joined by Mali, South Sudan, and Senegal from Africa3.
National Pride and Reactions
President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu congratulated the team, calling the victory a “golden chapter in our nation’s sporting history”5.
“You did it, girls! Superb performance to become 5x consecutive Champions of Africa and seventh overall. Well done, Coach Rena and the team,” Tinubu posted on social
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