Breaking: Nigeria’s D’Tigress beat Mali to win 5th consecutive AfroBasket Women title

Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress extended their remarkable reign on the continent by defeating Mali 78–64 in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, claiming their fifth consecutive title and seventh overall.

The victory, recorded on Sunday night at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, also marked their 29th straight win in the competition—an unbeaten streak that dates back to 2017. No team has ever achieved five consecutive titles in AfroBasket Women’s history like D’Tigress.

Though Nigeria trailed 21–26 at the end of the first quarter, they showed calm and class in equal measure.

Mali came out strong, determined to avenge past losses, with Sika Koné and Amina Dembele setting the pace early on.

But Nigeria settled quickly, with Murjanatu Musa breaking the early drought and Victoria Macaulay providing key minutes off the bench to stabilize the game.

By halftime, the teams were tied at 41–41, with Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu leading Nigeria’s charge.

Okonkwo finished with 19 points, while Kalu scored 20, including several clutch baskets that kept D’Tigress in control. Promise Amukamara and Macaulay added support, while Musa chipped in nine points and four rebounds in a game that once again highlighted Nigeria’s impressive bench depth.

The third quarter turned the tide decisively in Nigeria’s favour as they outscored Mali 20–15, with a critical three-point play from Okonkwo helping reassert control. Kalu’s steady hand guided the offense, and by the start of the fourth, Nigeria had a 61–56 lead. The team closed out the game with a dominant 17–8 run, overwhelming Mali with their energy and execution in the final stretch.

With this win, Nigeria have now lifted the AfroBasket Women’s title in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Head Coach Rena Wakama, who made history in 2023 as the first woman to lead the team to the title, has now added another championship to her growing legacy.

Ahead of the final, President Bola Tinubu praised the team’s consistent excellence, discipline, and team spirit, noting that their achievements continue to bring honour to the nation. He also commended Coach Wakama for her inspirational leadership.

The triumph over Mali came just a day after D’Tigress edged out long-time rivals Senegal in a gripping semifinal clash that many had dubbed the “final before the final.”