Breaking: Unstoppable D’Tigress roar to 5th straight AfroBasket Crown

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has etched their name in the annals of African basketball history by clinching their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title on Sunday.

They defeated Mali 78-64 in a thrilling final at the Palais des Sports de Treichville. This historic victory marks an unprecedented achievement, as D’Tigress become the first African women’s team to win five straight AfroBasket championships, extending their unbeaten streak to 28 games since 2015.

The road to the final was marked by resilience and dominance. D’Tigress opened their campaign with a commanding 92-45 rout of Rwanda, followed by a hard-fought 60-55 comeback against Mozambique to secure the Group D top spot.

In the quarterfinals, they crushed Cameroon 83-47, guaranteeing a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament.

The semifinal saw Nigeria overcome an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Senegal 75-68, with Ezinne Kalu leading the charge with 19 points, supported by Promise Amukamara (16 points) and Amy Okonkwo (15 points).

In the final against Mali, D’Tigress showcased their trademark defensive prowess and cohesive teamwork, as highlighted by center Victoria Macaulay, who noted that “pressing forth, digging deep, and defensive stats” were key to their success. T

he team’s ability to rally from deficits and maintain composure under pressure was evident throughout the tournament, culminating in a 14-point victory over a formidable Mali squad that had earlier defeated South Sudan 76-50.

Coach Rena Wakama, the 2024 Olympic Coach of the Year and the first female coach to win an AfroBasket title in 2023, has been lauded for her strategic leadership.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), under President Engineer Ahmed Musa Kida, celebrated the team’s triumph, with Kida’s presence in Abidjan underscoring the federation’s unwavering support.

The victory not only secures Nigeria’s continental dominance but also a direct berth in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, with the top four teams-Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan, qualifying for the World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.