Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have once again etched their name in the annals of African basketball history, clinching their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title with a thrilling 78–64 victory over Mali in the final played on Sunday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
With this win, the Nigerian side secured their seventh continental crown and extended an astonishing unbeaten run to 29 matches in the AfroBasket tournament, a record that stretches back 10 years to 2015.
In a statement following the final, the National Sports Commission described D’Tigress as “history makers,” praising the team for a feat no other African nation has ever achieved.
“You have dominated Africa. You have inspired a generation. You are champions, again and again,” the commission said in a social media post.
D’Tigress’ road to the title included a semi-final win over Senegal, a team they have now defeated seven consecutive times, further solidifying their dominance on the continent.
That victory earned the team praise from President Bola Tinubu, who hailed their resilience, unity and focus throughout the competition.
In a statement issued on Sunday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said, “These are qualities that have brought honour to our nation and earned respect for our players and coaches worldwide.”
The president also commended the team’s head coach, Rena Wakama, who made history in 2023 as the first woman to lead D’Tigress to an AfroBasket title. Under her leadership, the team has continued to thrive and maintain its competitive edge.
Wakama, a former D’Tigress player herself, has now guided the team to back-to-back AfroBasket titles, further elevating her status in African basketball history.
With this latest triumph, D’Tigress have also qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments.
