Nigeria's D'Tigress Secures a Victory over Senegal, Advancing to the 2025 Afro Basket Final; Tinubu Offers Congratulations
Nigeria's D'Tigress Clinch Fifth Consecutive AfroBasket Title
In a thrilling finale held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria's women's basketball team, D'Tigress, secured their fifth consecutive FIBA Women's AfroBasket title. They defeated Mali with a score of 78–64, ensuring their automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
Coach Rena Wakama, the first female Head Coach of D'Tigress, led the team to this historic victory. Star players like MVP Amy Okonkwo and guard Ezinne Kalu played pivotal roles, with Okonkwo scoring 19 points and earning MVP honors for her all-around performance, and Kalu leading all scorers with 20 points.
President Bola Tinubu publicly congratulated the team and Coach Wakama for this outstanding achievement. He commended their superb performance and expressed anticipation of their return home with the trophy. His message on social media highlighted national pride and support for the D’Tigress.
D'Tigress' journey to the final began with a semi-final victory against Senegal, ending with a score of 75-68. This marks their fifth consecutive appearance in the AfroBasket final. Other African teams, such as Mali and South Sudan, will compete in qualification tournaments for additional spots in the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria joins other continental champions Germany (host), USA (AmeriCup winners), Belgium (EuroBasket Women champions), and Australia (Asia Cup winners) as one of the first five teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The qualifying tournaments for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup are scheduled for March 2026.
President Tinubu has observed the discipline, focus, and team spirit consistently displayed by D'Tigress throughout the tournament. He described their victory as a 'final before the final' and stated that these qualities have brought honor to Nigeria and earned respect for D'Tigress and their coaches worldwide.
The final match against Mali will take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. As the team gears up for their next challenge, the nation stands behind them, cheering for their success and celebrating their resilience and commitment.
President Tinubu, with his encouraging message on social media, highlighted the national pride in D'Tigress' historic victory, expressing his anticipation for their return home with the trophy, embracing the team's resilience and commitment.
In Nigeria, the sports-analysis community is abuzz with discussions about the potential impact of D'Tigress' success on youth sports participation, particularly in basketball, inspired by the team's consistent performances.
Simultaneously, President Tinubu and the Lagos State Government, led by the APC, are also addressing concerns surrounding bandit activities within the country, pledging to safeguard the citizens of Nigeria and ensure the peace and stability needed for the continuous development of sports, including the promising future of D'Tigress.
As D'Tigress prepares to face Mali again, this time in the highly anticipated final match in Abidjan, Naija remains united in supporting its esteemed representatives, hoping they will once again shine on the global sports stage and secure a sixth consecutive AfroBasket title.
Despite the challenges faced in various sectors of Nigeria's society, the unwavering spirit of the people, embodying the resilience of D'Tigress, continues to captivate the world during this exceptional year, where sports serve as a powerful catalyst to unite and inspire the Nigerian spirit on both the national and international levels.
