Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, cemented their dominance in African basketball on Sunday night with a 78–64 win over Mali in the finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The victory secured their fifth consecutive title and seventh overall, making them the first team in the tournament’s history to win five back-to-back championships.
The triumph also extended D’Tigress’ unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games, a streak dating back to 2015.
Despite trailing 21–26 at the end of the first quarter, Nigeria bounced back with composure and intensity. Mali started strong, led by standout performances from Sika Koné and Amina Dembele, but D’Tigress regrouped quickly.
Key contributions came from Murjanatu Musa, who ended Nigeria’s scoring drought, and Victoria Macaulay, whose efforts off the bench helped stabilise the team. The game was tied 41–41 at halftime, thanks to stellar performances from Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu.
Kalu, controlling the pace like a true floor general, recorded 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while Okonkwo added 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, proving her leadership once again.
The third quarter was decisive as Nigeria tightened their defence and outscored Mali 20–15. A momentum-shifting three-point play from Okonkwo and sharp decision-making from Kalu pushed D’Tigress ahead. By the fourth quarter, they led 61–56 and never looked back, closing the game with a dominant 17–8 run.
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Macaulay and Musa’s combined total of 22 points and 10 rebounds showcased the team’s depth and balance.
Following her exceptional performance throughout the tournament, Amy Okonkwo was named Most Valuable Player (MVP)—her second consecutive MVP title—while also earning a spot on the Tournament’s Best V.
Coach Rena Wakama, who made history in 2023 as the first female head coach to lead the team to victory, added another title to her resume. Her tactical leadership and composure on the sidelines were instrumental throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu applauded the team on social media, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“You did it, girls! Superb performance to become 5x consecutive Champions of Africa and seventh overall. Well done, Coach Rena and the team. You have made Nigeria proud. I am expecting you all, along with the trophy.”
D’Tigress’ journey to the title included hard-fought wins against Rwanda, Mozambique, and Cameroon in the quarterfinals. Their semifinal against rivals Senegal—regarded by many as the “final before the final”—ended in a narrow but vital win, paving the way for the showdown against Mali.
With this latest triumph, D’Tigress have now won the AfroBasket title in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025. The victory also qualifies Nigeria for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.
Image Credits: 49thstreet
