Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Nigeria’s women’s basketball team has cemented its place in African sports history by clinching a record-breaking fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, defeating Mali 78–64 in a thrilling final on Saturday in Abidjan.
The landmark victory not only solidifies Nigeria’s dominance in women’s basketball across the continent but also breaks a decades-old record held by Senegal, who previously won four straight titles between 1974 and 1981. Nigeria now stands as the first nation ever to win the championship five times in a row.
With the win, Nigeria extended their unbeaten streak in the tournament to an astonishing 29 games—undefeated since 2015—further underlining their dominance.
Much like their previous games in the tournament, the D’Tigress had a slow start in the final. But under the leadership of head coach Rena Wakama, the team found their rhythm in the second quarter, responding to Mali’s early aggression and leveling the game at 41–41 by halftime.
Their path to the final was not without drama. Nigeria overcame a fierce challenge from longtime rivals Senegal in the semifinal, edging out a 75–68 victory in what many dubbed the “final before the final.”
The historic triumph marks another chapter of excellence for Nigerian basketball and places the D’Tigress firmly at the top of African women’s basketball.
