Nigeria’s Nigeria’s fairly tale in African sports, continued yesterday, as the country’s national female basketball team, D’Tigress cemented their dominance in the continent’s women basketball after defeating Mali 78–64 in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 final at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Nigerian team made history by winning a record-extending fifth consecutive AfroBasket title, showcasing remarkable resilience after trailing in the first quarter (21–26).
Led by tournament standout Amy Okonkwo, who scored a game-high 26 points, D’Tigress regained control in the second quarter and maintained the tempo to seal victory.
Despite Mali’s strong start and Sika Koné’s impressive 24-point performance, Nigeria’s superior shooting efficiency and depth proved decisive.
The defending champions outscored Mali 37–23 in the second half, locking down defensively in the fourth quarter to close out the game.
The victory further solidifies Nigeria’s position as the most dominant force in African women’s basketball, having also defeated Senegal in the semifinals to reach their seventh straight AfroBasket final appearance.
The win also secures D’Tigress an automatic qualification spot for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, continuing their international rise under the leadership of head coach Rena Wakama, the first female to guide Nigeria to back to back titles.