Basketball

AfroBasket 2025: D’Tigress beat Mali to win fifth consecutive title

By Mmenyeneabasi Akpan

Posted on August 3, 2025

Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, claimed a record-extending fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title with a 78–64 victory over Mali in the final held on Sunday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The win cements Nigeria’s decade-long dominance on the African stage and extends their unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games, a streak that began in 2015.

Nigeria’s D’Tigress defeated Mali 78–64 in Abidjan to win a record fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, extending their dominance of African women’s basketball.

D’tigress celebrating their 2025 Afrobasket. Photo Credit: NBBF

Mali started brightly and took the first quarter 26–21, but D’Tigress responded with growing intensity. Nigeria matched Mali’s energy in the second quarter to level the game at the break, winning the frame 20–15.

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After halftime, Nigeria turned on the style repeating a 20–15 third quarter to seize momentum before closing the game strongly with a 17–8 fourth quarter to secure the title.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scores:

Q1: Mali 26–21 Nigeria

Q2: Nigeria 20–15 Mali

Q3: Nigeria 20–15 Mali

Q4: Nigeria 17–8 Mali

The victory marks another milestone under head coach Rena Wakama, who became the first female coach to lead Nigeria to an AfroBasket title in 2023 and has now delivered back-to-back championships.

D’Tigress defeated Mali in Abidjan to win a record fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, extending their dominance

D’tigress celebrating their 2025 Afrobasket. Photo Credit: NBBF

The triumph also comes on the heels of a dramatic semifinal comeback win against Senegal, where Nigeria overturned a six-point fourth-quarter deficit to reach the final.

D’Tigress at a Glance – AfroBasket Titles:

2017 – Champions

2019 – Champions

2021 – Champions

2023 – Champions

2025 – Champions

D’Tigress’ five-title haul underscores their status as Africa’s undisputed basketball powerhouse, with players like Ezinne Kalu, Amy Okonkwo, Promise Amukamara, and Victoria Macaulay continuing to play pivotal roles on the continental stage.