Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, not only clinched their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title on Sunday in Abidjan but also dominated the individual accolades, with forward Amy Okonkwo leading the charge.
Okonkwo was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament for the second consecutive edition, following her standout performance in Nigeria’s 78–64 victory over Mali in the final.
She delivered a commanding 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists to seal D’Tigress’ seventh continental title—further solidifying her place as one of Africa’s premier basketball talents.
While the final brought Nigeria’s team excellence into the spotlight, the closing ceremony of the 2025 AfroBasket also celebrated individual brilliance from across the continent, recognising those whose skill and leadership shaped the tournament.
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Notably, no official award was given for Best Coach, despite widespread praise for Coach Rena Wakama. Having now led Nigeria to back-to-back AfroBasket titles in her first two appearances, Wakama has etched her name into the competition’s history books. Her strategic insight and calm leadership continue to set her apart on the African coaching scene.
Complete List of Award Winners – FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025:
- Most Valuable Player (MVP):
Amy Okonkwo (Nigeria) - All-Tournament Team (All-Star Five):
- Amy Okonkwo (Nigeria)
- Cierra Dillard (Senegal)
- Delicia Washington (South Sudan)
- Jane Asinde (Uganda)
- Sika Koné (Mali)
- Amy Okonkwo (Nigeria)
- Top Scorer:
Delicia Washington (South Sudan) - Best Three-Point Shooter:
Jessica Thomas (Cameroon) - Best Rebounder:
Maria Teresa Gakdeng (South Sudan)
This year’s awards reflected not only Nigeria’s dominance but also the expanding talent pool in women’s basketball across Africa.
The presence of players from countries like South Sudan, Uganda, Mali, Senegal, and Cameroon in the All-Star and statistical categories underscores the growing competitiveness of the tournament.
With Nigeria now just four titles away from Senegal’s record of 11 AfroBasket championships, and with a new generation of stars like Okonkwo rising, the D’Tigress remain a formidable force poised for even greater heights on the global stage.
As the curtain falls on this year’s championship, attention now turns to Olympic qualifiers and the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pathway—where Africa’s finest will once again take center stage.
Image Credit: FIBA Basketball
