By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Nigeria’s D’Tigress have cemented their status as queens of African basketball after defeating Mali 78–64 to win a record fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title on Sunday.
The win in the final marks Nigeria’s seventh overall AfroBasket championship and extends their unbeaten run in the competition to 29 matches, dating back to 2015.
The match began with both teams trading points, and Mali’s aggressive play saw them keep pace with Nigeria through the first half. The game was tied 41–41 at halftime.
Nigeria, however, took control in the third quarter, stepping up their defensive intensity and pulling ahead with a 20–15 run. By the start of the fourth quarter, D’Tigress led 61–56 and never looked back.
Ezinne Kalu and Amy Okonkwo led the scoring charge, recording 20 and 19 points respectively. Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, and Musa also made significant contributions on both ends of the court.
The road to the final saw Nigeria overcome a tough challenge from Senegal in the semi-final, where they emerged 75–68 winners in a match many viewed as the true test of the tournament.
Rena Wakama, the team’s head coach and the first woman to lead Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, has received wide acclaim for guiding the side to this historic milestone.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier commended the team’s determination and is expected to honour the players, as he did recently with the Super Falcons following their WAFCON victory.
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