The Traffic

Unstoppable D’Tigress Claim 5th Straight AfroBasket Crown, Extend Continental Dominance

Nigeria’s women’s basketball powerhouse, D’Tigress, cemented their legacy in African basketball history by defeating Mali 78–64 to clinch their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title on Sunday night in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

With this victory, the team has now lifted the AfroBasket Women’s trophy a total of seven times—in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025—marking an unmatched era of dominance on the continent. More impressively, the triumph also stretched their unbeaten streak in the tournament to 29 games, a run that began in 2017.

Held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, the final was anything but routine. Mali came out swinging, seizing an early 26–21 lead by the end of the first quarter, determined to break the Nigerian juggernaut. Led by standout performers Sika Koné and Amina Dembele, Mali looked poised to rewrite the script.

But true to their championship pedigree, D’Tigress regrouped quickly. Murjanatu Musa sparked the revival, ending Nigeria’s scoring drought, while Victoria Macaulay delivered crucial minutes off the bench. By halftime, the two sides were locked at 41–41 in a tense deadlock.

Then came the shift. Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu—Nigeria’s one-two punch—took charge. Kalu’s composure and big-time baskets proved vital, while Okonkwo dazzled with 19 points, including a momentum-turning three-point play that pushed Nigeria ahead in the third quarter. Kalu finished with a game-high 20 points, as Promise Amukamara, Macaulay, and Musa added solid contributions to reinforce Nigeria’s depth and poise.

By the fourth quarter, D’Tigress held a slim 61–56 lead, but it soon snowballed into dominance. A commanding 17–8 closing run smothered Mali’s hopes and sealed a historic night for the Nigerian side.

This championship also adds to the growing legacy of Coach Rena Wakama, who in 2023 became the first woman to coach D’Tigress to an AfroBasket title. Two years on, she’s delivered another gold, cementing her place in the sport’s history.

President Bola Tinubu, ahead of the final, had hailed the team’s unity, discipline, and commitment, applauding their role in uplifting Nigeria’s global sports image. He also commended Coach Wakama for her leadership and vision.

Coming off a nail-biting semifinal win over arch-rivals Senegal, the D’Tigress have proven once again they are Africa’s gold standard in women’s basketball—with no signs of slowing down.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna