Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, have made history by winning their fifth straight FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title, defeating Senegal 81-72 in a fiercely contested final on Sunday night in Kigali.
The victory at the BK Arena cements D’Tigress’ dominance on the continent, as they become the first team in African women’s basketball history to win five Afrobasket championships in a row — 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and now 2025.
Led by standout performances from Amy Okonkwo and Sarah Ogoke, the Nigerian side overcame a slow start to outplay the Senegalese in the second half, thrilling fans with aggressive defense, pinpoint shooting, and tactical discipline. Okonkwo, who was later named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Ogoke contributed 16 points and 6 assists.
Head coach Rena Wakama, who made history herself in 2023 as the first female head coach to win the Afrobasket, praised the team’s resilience.
“These ladies are warriors. It was not an easy tournament, but they showed up when it mattered most. Nigeria can be proud,” she said after the game.
President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, have both sent congratulatory messages to the team, lauding their continued excellence and calling them “true ambassadors of Nigerian greatness.”
Nigeria now secures automatic qualification for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, keeping alive hopes of making it to the Paris 2026 Olympics.
With this latest triumph, D’Tigress have further established themselves as a powerhouse in African women’s basketball, continuing a golden era for the sport in Nigeria.
