Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress, delivered a commanding performance to defeat Mali 78–64 in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, securing their fifth consecutive title.
The match took place at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and drew a packed crowd of supporters from across West Africa.
From the start, the Nigerian side dominated the game with superior teamwork, speed, and shooting accuracy. By halftime, they had built a solid lead, and they held off Mali’s attempts to close the gap in the second half.
The victory marks Nigeria’s seventh overall AfroBasket crown and reinforces its place as Africa’s top women’s basketball team.
A Record-Breaking Run Under Coach Wakama
Coach Rena Wakama, who made history in 2023 as the first woman to lead the team to continental victory, once again guided her squad with discipline and tactical brilliance.
Under her leadership, the D’Tigress have now extended their unbeaten run in AfroBasket competitions to 29 games since 2015, the longest in the tournament’s history.
Tournament standout Amy Okonkwo led the scoring with 26 points, while Mali’s Sika Koné put up a strong fight with 24 points. Nigeria’s shooting efficiency stood at 49%, compared to Mali’s 37%, and the team outscored Mali 37–23 in the second half.
“We came here to defend our legacy, and we did just that,” Wakama said after the match. “This team is built on grit, unity, and belief.”
National Pride and Global Ambitions
Celebrations poured in across the country, with congratulatory messages from officials and fans. President Bola Tinubu praised the team’s “discipline, team spirit, and dominance,” and commended Coach Wakama for her leadership.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also described the team as “an inspiration to girls and women across Nigeria.”
The team joked online about getting rewarded in dollars, referencing past bonus pledges to Nigerian sports teams. “We’re practising for Tinubu’s $100,000,” they teased on social media, echoing the Super Falcons’ recent bonus after their WAFCON success.
While the D’Tigress bask in their well-deserved win, attention now turns to their preparations for the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. With this level of performance, expectations are rising.
The team has already secured a spot in the 2026 qualifiers, and fans are hopeful they can challenge global basketball powerhouses.
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