Nigeria’s D’Tigress clinch fifth consecutive Afrobasket title after win against Mali

By Tosin Omojola –

Nigeria’s D’Tigress ended their run in the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket on a victorious note, beating Mali in the final to clinch a record fifth consecutive Afrobasket crown.

It was a tough contest between the two West African countries, as they battled grit for grit before the Rena Wakama-tutored D’Tigress emerged winners.

The Nigerians made history by becoming the first team in African basketball to win five consecutive Afrobasket titles, following a hard-fought 78–64 victory over the Malians in the final held on Sunday at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, Côte d’Ivoire.

Both teams entered the final with history on their minds. Nigeria aimed to become the first nation to win five consecutive AfroBasket titles across both the men’s and women’s tournaments, while Mali were chasing their second Women’s AfroBasket crown—and their first in 18 years.

Mali started the game with intensity, playing aggressive basketball and outscoring Nigeria 26–21 in the first quarter. However, D’Tigress responded strongly in the second, reeling off 12 unanswered points to seize the lead.

Nigeria edged the quarter 20–15, but Mali fought their way back into the contest, and both sides went into the halftime break tied at 41–41.

D’Tigress pulled away in the third quarter and sealed the victory in the final stretch of the game.

The victory comes just a few days after Nigeria’s women’s football team, the Super Falcons, won a 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco.