President Tinubu Reacts as Nigeria’s D’Tigress Defeat Mali to Clinch 5th Straight AfroBasket Title
- President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s D’Tigress and hailed Coach Rena Wakama for the team's historic success
- Nigeria won a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, defeating West African rivals Mali after 1st quarter scare
- The victory extended D’Tigress’ unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games, dating back to 2015
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have written their names in history books after defeating Mali 78-64 to claim the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.
The victory marks an unprecedented fifth consecutive title for Nigeria and their seventh overall, confirming their dominance as Africa’s undisputed queens of the court.
Source: Twitter
The entertaining final, played on Sunday, saw Mali start on a high, winning the first quarter 26-21. Ripples Nigeria reports.
Determined to end Nigeria’s winning run, the Malians pushed hard early on, but D’Tigress dug deep to stage a remarkable comeback.
D’Tigress stage remarkable comeback
After trailing in the first quarter, D’Tigress displayed the right attitude that has defined their reign in African basketball as they fought back to earn a historic win.
The team rallied back to claim the second quarter 20-15, levelling the game and shifting momentum.
Source: Twitter
By the third quarter, the AfroBasket defending champions showed their superiority in defence and tactical discipline, outscoring Mali 20-15 once again.
The final quarter was all Nigeria, as they sealed the game with a commanding 17-8 performance to close out the contest 78-64, The Guardian reports.
This victory not only gave Nigeria its fifth consecutive AfroBasket crown but also extended its remarkable 29-game unbeaten run in the competition, which dates back to 2015.
No other African women’s basketball team has achieved such a dominant consecutive win in the history of the competition.
President Tinubu celebrates D’Tigress’ achievement
Following the historic win, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took to social media to congratulate D’Tigress for making Nigeria proud.
His message on X praised the team’s resilience and highlighted the leadership of head coach Rena Wakama, Nigeria’s first female coach to win the AfroBasket title.
“You did it, girls! Superb performance to become 5x consecutive Champions of Africa and seventh overall. Well done, Coach Rena and the team. You have made Nigeria proud. I am expecting you all, along with the trophy. #MissionV – Done & Dusted,” Tinubu posted.
The victory comes just a week after Tinubu rewarded Nigeria’s Super Falcons with $100,000 each and apartments for winning the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Fans are already speculating if D’Tigress could receive similar presidential rewards for their remarkable achievement.
With their latest win, D’Tigress continue to raise the bar for African women’s basketball while strengthening its status as a continental powerhouse.
How much Nigeria’s D’Tigress earned
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that D’Tigress have won the AfroBasket for a total of seven times, still trailing all-time leaders Senegal, who have won it 11 times.
Following their historic win, speculation is rife that D’Tigress could receive substantial bonuses similar to the Super Falcons, who were awarded $100,000 per player after their WAFCON success.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
