Prime Highlights:
- Nigeria were champions of Women’s AfroBasket 2025 after beating Mali 78-64 in the final.
- D’Tigress became the first team in history to claim five AfroBasket Women’s titles consecutively.
Key Fact:
- Nigeria took their winning streak at the African games to 29 games and have not lost since 2015.
- With the victory, Nigeria achieved a record seven AfroBasket titles, the most by any nation.
Key Background:
Nigeria D’Tigress broke the history of basketball by getting titleholders of the Women’s AfroBasket 2025 event in Abidjan. By winning the 78 – 64 game against Mali, not only did they claim the crown, but they also won their fifth successive game at the event and a record that no other platoon on the African mainland has ever achieved.
Despite its less than exciting start when Mali had led 26–21 at the first quarter, Nigeria gained momentum in the second quarter to trail 41–41 at half time. From that point on, the D’Tigress dominated, taking the third and fourth quarter of the game. Their composure, coordination, and awareness proved to be their strengths as they created pressure on a very much concentrated Malian team step by step.
The final showcased a astral performance from Amy Okonkwo, who led Nigeria with 19 points. Her impact on both ends of the court earned her the Most Valuable Player( MVP) award for the alternate successive event. Teammate Ezinne Kalu also stepped up with 20 points, while Mali’s Sika Koné fought back with 16 points and 13 rebounds. still, Nigeria’s depth and thickness eventually proved superior.
Nigeria’s winning run of AfroBasket palms since 2015 has now gone to 29 successive triumphs. The D’Tigress have lost no game in the event since the last ten times, a pointer to how disciplined and better they are. They increase their title count to seven with this palm, having won ahead in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Nigeria is also the first to have been crowned two consecutive AfroBasket titles under a female coach as the head coach is Rena Wakama. The victory provides Nigeria an automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women‘s Basketball World Cup, with Mali, South Sudan, and Senegal advancing to the world qualifiers.
Raed more : Trump Administration Bans Trans Women Athletes from Sports Visas Under New Immigration Policy
