Reigning champions Nigeria will tip off their title defense at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket with a clash against Rwanda on Sunday, July 26, at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The D’Tigress, widely regarded as the team of the decade in African women’s basketball, will be aiming to make history by securing a fifth consecutive AfroBasket title—a feat previously only matched by Senegal.
Read Also: 15-Year-Old Nigerian Striker Chidinma Nwokedi Signs With Chelsea FC Women U15
Unbeaten Since 2015
Nigeria has been unstoppable on the continent since their third-place finish at the 2015 AfroBasket in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where they defeated Angola 65-55. Since then, they have compiled a perfect 24-0 record in four straight AfroBasket tournaments (2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023).
Including victories in Olympic and World Cup qualifiers against African opponents, the D’Tigress boast a dominant 29-0 run against African teams across all competitions since 2015.
Leadership and Legacy
Head coach Rena Wakama, recently named the 2024 Paris Olympics Coach of the Year, will be at the helm for her second AfroBasket campaign. She is aiming to become the first female coach to win back-to-back Women’s AfroBasket titles.
Nigeria’s team is traditionally composed of both homegrown talent and foreign-based professionals, blending strength, athleticism, and tactical discipline.
Nigeria was ranked as high as 8th globally in 2024 and enters this year’s AfroBasket as Africa’s top-ranked team.
As the D’Tigress against Rwanda step onto the court, fans across the continent will be watching to see if they can extend their unbeaten legacy and claim a historic fifth consecutive crown.
