D’Tigress roars to historic 5th consecutive women’s AfroBasket title

Nigeria’s D’Tigress has secured a historic fifth straight Women’s AfroBasket championship, defeating a determined Mali team 78-64 in the 2025 final in Abidjan.

The Nigerian team has maintained an unbeaten 29-0 streak since the 2015 tournament’s third-place game in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Despite a sluggish start, as seen in earlier matches, Nigeria, led by coach Rena Wakama, found their rhythm in the second quarter, leveling the score at 41-41 by halftime.

“We knew Mali would come strong, but our focus was to stay composed and execute our game plan,” Wakama told reporters post-match.

In the third quarter, Nigeria surged ahead, capitalizing on Mali’s turnovers to take a 61-56 lead.

Mali fought back in the final quarter, but D’Tigress remained unshaken, matching every basket with precision and confidence to seal the victory.

“This win showcases our resilience and teamwork,” said Wakama. Nigeria now stands alone as the only nation to claim five consecutive Women’s AfroBasket titles.

Meanwhile, the debutant South Sudan edged out Senegal 66-65 in the third-place match.