Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, continued their continental dominance by defeating Mali 78–64 to secure their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship title, marking their seventh title overall.
The thrilling final took place at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and showcased Nigeria’s composure, experience, and resilience. With this victory, they extended their incredible unbeaten streak in the tournament to 29 games — a run that dates back to 2017.
No other African women’s basketball team has achieved such a feat, making D’Tigress the undisputed queens of the continent. Their historic fifth straight title sets a new benchmark in African basketball.
Mali, determined to overturn their recent losses against Nigeria, started strong. Led by standout players Sika Koné and Amina Dembele, they ended the first quarter ahead 26–21, putting Nigeria on the back foot early.
However, Nigeria showed their mettle. Murjanatu Musa ended an early scoring drought, and Victoria Macaulay came off the bench to steady the ship. Nigeria clawed back by halftime, tying the game at 41–41, thanks to solid efforts from Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu.
Kalu played a central role throughout the match, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Okonkwo, who was instrumental on both ends of the court, led the team with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists — a performance that earned her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the second consecutive time after 2023.
The third quarter became the turning point of the game. D’Tigress tightened their defense and outscored Mali 20–15. Okonkwo’s key three-point play and Kalu’s leadership turned the tide, helping Nigeria take a 61–56 lead into the final quarter.
In the last ten minutes, Nigeria showed why they are champions. With relentless defense and sharp offense, they finished on a commanding 17–8 run, silencing Mali and closing out the win in dominant fashion.
Contributions came from across the team. Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, and Murjanatu Musa all made important plays. Macaulay and Musa combined for 22 points and 10 rebounds, highlighting the team’s incredible depth and balance.
Head Coach Rena Wakama, who made history in 2023 by becoming the first female coach to guide Nigeria to an AfroBasket title, added another historic milestone by leading the team to back-to-back championships. Her leadership and tactical approach were vital to the team’s continued success.
With this latest win, Nigeria have now claimed AfroBasket titles in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 — cementing their legacy as one of Africa’s greatest women’s basketball dynasties.
Shortly after the win, President Bola Tinubu, who had shown support ahead of the final, congratulated the team on X (formerly Twitter).
“You did it, girls! @DtigressNG 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,” he posted.