Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history on Sunday by securing their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Afrobasket championship, following a 78–64 win over Mali in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
This latest triumph not only extended Nigeria’s decade-long unbeaten run in the continental tournament but also guaranteed them an automatic spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, to be held in Berlin, Germany.
The final, staged at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, saw Nigeria bounce back from a shaky start. Mali edged the first quarter 26–21 in what was an intense battle between two of Africa’s basketball powerhouses.
D’Tigress, however, responded swiftly, levelling the game 41–41 by half-time. Nigeria came out with renewed energy in the third quarter, taking charge of the match and closing the period with a narrow 61–56 lead.
The final quarter proved decisive. Nigeria’s defensive efforts proved too much for Mali, who were limited to just eight points in the last ten minutes. D’Tigress capitalised, pulling away to secure a dominant 14-point win.
The road to the final included a hard-fought semi-final on Saturday, where Nigeria overcame Senegal 75–68 to reach their seventh Afrobasket final. This latest title cements D’Tigress’s legacy as the most successful women’s team in the tournament’s history, with seven championships to their name.