Nigeria’s D’Tigress won their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, defeating Mali 78–64 in Abidjan. Led by MVP Amy Okonkwo and star guard Ezinne Kalu, the team cemented their legacy as Africa’s basketball powerhouse.
Last Updated on
August 4, 2025
In a commanding and historic performance, Nigeria's D'Tigress captured the 2025 FIBA Women's AfroBasket title for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time, defeating Mali 78–64 in the final game. Held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, this victory firmly establishes Nigeria as the dominant force in African women's basketball.
The title game began tentatively for Nigeria. Mali surged ahead early and held a slim lead after the first quarter, outscoring Nigeria 26–21. But Nigeria responded with poise matching Mali 41–41 by halftime after staging a rally in the second quarter.
Nigeria's turnaround was anchored by scintillating efforts from Ezinne Kalu and Amy Okonkwo. Kalu led all scorers with 20 points, while Okonkwo added 19, including 4-for-7 three-point shooting, and was named the tournament MVP thanks to her all‑court efficiency and clutch play. A third contributor, Victoria Macaulay, chipped in 10 points, with the trio combining for 49 of Nigeria's 78 points over half of the team output.
"I'm so excited we fought so hard, the Afrobasket is not easy at all. There are so many great athletes in Africa," Ezine Kalu recounted
On the Malian side, Sika Koné battled valiantly, finishing with a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double, and leading the tournament in rebounding with an average of 10.5 boards per game .
Once Nigeria seized control after halftime, they never looked back. Effective ball movement fueled their offense—they logged 24 assists, eight more than Mali, as Nigeria's unselfish play created consistent scoring chances.
Defensively, Nigeria intensified in the fourth quarter, limiting Mali to just 8 points, while delivering a dominant 17–8 run to close out the game
With this win, Nigeria extends its unbeaten AfroBasket record to 29 straight games, dating back to a loss in the 2015 third-place match in Yaoundé, Cameroon. No African nation including the storied Senegal teams of the 1970s and '80s has ever matched five consecutive titles.
This breakthrough marks Nigeria's seventh overall Women's AfroBasket title, and a fifth successive triumph following wins in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and now 2025, having hosted in different countries each time.
The game tipped in Nigeria's favor through combining high-level offense and controlled defense. Mali's strength on the boards (37–36 in rebounds) came close to mitigating Nigeria's perimeter edge, but their lacklustre three-point shooting allowed the D'Tigress to open space and leverage fast-break opportunities.
Nigeria's depth was another decisive factor: scoring balanced contributions across the roster, they implemented strong interior play and capitalized on turnovers, a strategy that suffocated Mali's momentum in the closing quarters.
This landmark 2025 triumph seals Nigeria's position as the powerhouse of African women's basketball. The D'Tigress not only secured their fifth straight continental crown but also earned a berth in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments.
Inside Nigeria, head coach Rena Wakama lauded the conditioning and tactical discipline shown in the clutch moments especially the mid-game turnaround and composure under Mali's physical pressure. MVP Amy Okonkwo, reflecting on her second MVP award, emphasized the synergy of experience and youth that pushed Nigeria to historic success.
Meanwhile, Mali's silver marking their best result in nearly two decades demonstrates significant progress. Players like Koné and Djeneba N'Diaye showed elite potential, but Mali's inability to hit at the three-point arc and contain Nigeria's ball movement spoke to fine margins between elite and historic.
Today we gave the best shot that we had but it wasn't enough conratulations for nigeria but we have to get better for the next Afrobasket. When we came here the goal was to win this Afrobasket but we fell short. however we are going to come back and be better. Declared Rokia Doumbia
Nigeria's 2025 Women's AfroBasket victory is more than just a number it's a defining statement. With five straight titles, an unbeaten streak since 2015, and a legacy cemented across five separate host countries, the D'Tigress have rewritten African basketball history. This achievement not only highlights their dominance but also sets a new benchmark for sustained excellence in the sport across the continent.
.jpg)
