Nigeria reigns again as D’Tigress topple Mali to win 5th consecutive AfroBasket title
In a display of elite athleticism, discipline, and national pride, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on Sunday night etched their names into the annals of African sports history by defeating Mali 78-64 to win their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, a feat no other African country has ever achieved.
The victory, sealed at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, marked D’Tigress’ seventh overall continental championship, reinforcing their dominance in African women’s basketball and extending their impressive winning streak to 29 consecutive games, a run that stretches back to 2015 without a single defeat.
The final was anything but a walk in the park. Mali came into the contest hungry, aggressive, and determined to break Nigeria’s dominance.
But the D’Tigress, true to their championship pedigree, maintained composure, adjusted their gameplay under pressure, and executed with clinical precision.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s D’Tigress defeat Senegal to reach Afrobasket final
The team showed balance in offence and defence, led by sharp shooting, intelligent rotations, and relentless rebounding.
A standout performance by Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu on Sunday night was critical to ensuring that the D’Tigress retain the title for a historic fifth consecutive time.
While Okonkwo contributed 19 points on the night, Kalu delivered 20 points, including several crucial baskets in the second and third quarters.
Promise Amukamara and Victoria Macaulay also made key contributions, while Musa added nine crucial points and four rebounds in a game that once again showcased Nigeria’s depth.
The Third quarter of the game proved to be very decisive, with the Nigerian ladies tightening their defence to outscore the Malians 20-15.
With this victory, Nigeria has now won the AfroBasket title in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and now 2025, the last five in unbroken succession.
Victorious Super Falcons
D’Tigress’ triumph comes just weeks after the Super Falcons made headlines by winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, a double win for Nigerian women in sports and a strong testament to the country’s growing strength in female-led athletic achievement.
READ ALSO: Super Falcons stun Morocco 3-2 to win 10th WAFCON title
The back-to-back continental success of Nigeria’s women athletes is being hailed as a moment of national pride and a wake-up call to increase investment in women’s sports across the country.
Tributes and congratulations have poured in from across the nation, with sports authorities, fans, and even government officials taking to social media and the press to applaud the team.
Following this record-setting triumph, attention will now shift to global tournaments, with D’Tigress aiming to make a strong impact at the upcoming Olympic qualifiers and potentially at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
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