In a historic night for African basketball, Nigeria’s D’Tigress secured their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship by defeating Mali 78 64 at the Palais des Sports Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This victory extended their extraordinary unbeaten streak to 28 games, a run that has remained unbroken since their last defeat in 2015, cementing their reputation as the continent’s unrivaled powerhouse in women’s basketball.
The final was an inspiring tale of resilience and strategic mastery. Despite trailing 21–26 at the end of the first quarter, the Nigerian squad unleashed a powerful comeback, dominating the remaining three quarters with scores of 20–15, 20–15, and 17–8. Their relentless energy and tactical excellence showcased the hallmark traits of determination and skill that define D’Tigress.
Musa Kida, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), celebrated the monumental achievement and dedicated the victory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Kida emphasized that the team’s success was fueled by the president’s leadership and the transformative Renewed Hope agenda, which has reinvigorated Nigerian sports nationwide.
“Tonight in Abidjan, our D’Tigress have achieved the extraordinary Mission five has become Mission V Accomplished! Winning five AfroBasket titles consecutively without losing a single match to any African team is not just dominance; it is our legacy,” Kida proclaimed passionately.
“These fearless women embody the true Nigerian fighting spirit: resilient, bold, and unstoppable. We proudly dedicate this historic triumph to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose unwavering dedication to revitalizing sports through the Renewed Hope agenda has ushered in a new era of opportunity and excellence for athletes across our great nation.”
Kida added, “His leadership inspires every slam dunk, every rebound, and every victory. Nigeria stands tall tonight not only as champions but as a shining example of what can be achieved when hope is renewed and excellence is relentlessly pursued.”
Under Musa Kida’s visionary leadership, D’Tigress has evolved into a world-class basketball powerhouse, claiming four of the five consecutive AfroBasket titles. They made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first African women’s basketball team to reach the quarterfinals in the competition’s prestigious history, further elevating Nigeria’s status on the global stage.
With this latest championship, D’Tigress continue to inspire a new generation of athletes, embodying the spirit of resilience, excellence, and national pride. Their dominance in African basketball is undeniable, and their legacy is firmly etched in the sport’s continent-wide narrative.
