President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, for booking a spot in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, marking their fifth consecutive appearance in the tournament’s final stage.
In a statement released on Sunday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu lauded the team’s resilience, dominance, and consistent performance throughout the competition.
D’Tigress secured their final berth with a 75-68 victory over Senegal in a tightly contested semi-final match held Saturday night at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The triumph marks the seventh straight win over their fierce West African rivals and further cements D’Tigress’ status as the undisputed powerhouse of African women’s basketball.
“I have observed the discipline, focus, and team spirit consistently displayed by D’Tigress throughout this tournament. These are qualities that have brought honour to our nation and earned respect for our players and coaches worldwide,” Tinubu stated.
Wakama’s Historic Role
President Tinubu made a special mention of Rena Wakama, the first woman to coach the national women’s team. Her leadership has been credited for revitalizing the squad and steering them to continued success.
“I especially commend Rena Wakama, the team’s first female Head Coach, whose leadership and experience both on the court and now from the bench continue to inspire D’Tigress to new heights,” the president added.
What’s Next for D’Tigress?
With this victory, D’Tigress have secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments and are just one step away from clinching their fifth straight AfroBasket title and seventh overall.
The Nigerian queens of the court will take on Mali in the final on Sunday, aiming to etch their names even deeper into the annals of African basketball history.
