The Nigeria women’s national basketball team have been crowned champions of the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket for a record fifth consecutive time after defeating Mali women’s national basketball team 78–64 in Sunday’s final.
The title game, played on 3 August at the Palais des Sports Treichville in Abidjan, saw Mali race to a 26–20 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, Nigeria regrouped and dominated the final three periods, overpowering their West African rivals to secure a seventh continental crown.
With the triumph, D’Tigress also qualified for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany. Mali, alongside South Sudan women’s national basketball team and Senegal women’s national basketball team, will compete in qualification tournaments next March for a chance to join them.
Head coach Rena Wakama praised her players’ resilience and determination after the comeback victory.
“I am thankful for my girls, my queens. Without them, nothing is possible,” said Wakama, who also serves as an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky. “They go through so much. They are the definition of true professionals. This is what they do. And I am glad that they were able to reap the benefits of their work. We have a long way to go as a country, but the future looks bright.
“It’s the Nigerian spirit. We are resilient — that’s who we are. In short words, I said go out and win this game, not only for yourselves but for our country.
“We are always playing for something bigger than ourselves. We are leaving a legacy and we are changing lives and impacting lives. So if we are able to do that, the game is easy.”
Wakama, who became the first woman to coach a team to AfroBasket glory two years ago and later made history at Paris 2024, has now added another milestone to her growing legacy with her D’Tigress “queens.”
