D’Tigress were trailing by five points at the end of the first quarter before pulling off an incredible comeback.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress on Sunday night won their seventh African basketball title.
The Rena Wakama-led side defeated Mali 78-64 to lift the trophy for the fifth consecutive time in a game played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Nigerian ladies were trailing by five points at the end of the first quarter but pulled off an incredible comeback to secure a win at the final whistle.
The victory extends Nigeria’s astonishing unbeaten run in the competition to 29 straight games—an unbroken streak dating back to 2015.
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Prior to this, President Bola Tinubu had congratulated the team for securing a place in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, he said, “I have observed the discipline, focus, and team spirit consistently displayed by throughout this tournament—qualities that have brought honour to our nation and earned respect for our players and coaches worldwide.”
He went on to celebrate the team’s qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments scheduled for March 2026.
He also singled out Head Coach, Rena Wakama, for special praise, acknowledging her leadership role and commitment to the team’s success.
