Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have arrived in Abidjan with their eyes firmly set on retaining their crown as the queens of African basketball at the upcoming AfroBasket 2025 Championship.
Led by head coach Rena Wakama, the reigning champions are banking on a mix of experience and tactical cohesion, with the inclusion of several veteran names who have been instrumental in the team’s recent dominance on the continent.
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Among the key returnees are Sarah Ogoke, Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, and Victoria Macaulay — players whose leadership and international experience will be vital as Nigeria looks to secure yet another title.
Wakama, who guided D’Tigress to gold at AfroBasket 2023 in Rwanda, expressed confidence in her team’s readiness. “We know the pressure that comes with defending a title, but we’ve prepared well and are focused. The girls are hungry, and we’re here to make a statement again,” she said upon arrival.
D’Tigress have dominated the African basketball scene, winning the last four AfroBasket tournaments (2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023), and will open their 2025 campaign with the tag of favourites once again.
The team has been training intensively in Lagos before their departure and is expected to fine-tune strategies in Abidjan ahead of their opening game. The tournament, which brings together the best of women’s basketball in Africa, promises fierce competition, but Nigeria’s pedigree and preparation place them firmly among the teams to beat.
As the countdown begins, all eyes will be on the D’Tigress to see if they can once again rise to the occasion and extend their historic reign.
