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Few Days after Super Falcons triumph at WAFCON 2024, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, DTigress, once again etched their names into African sporting folklore with a triumphant fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Afro Basket title. It wasn’t just another trophy, it was a resounding statement of resilience, dominance, and unyielding belief.
Long before the first tip-off in Abidjan, DTigress’ title defence seemed destined for derailment. Traditionally, the team held a pre-tournament training camp in the United States, but this time, bureaucratic inefficiencies struck. The planned Abuja-based homecoming camp never quite came to life as expected, and vital flight tickets only trickled in by mid-July barely days before the tournament began.
Coach Rena Wakama, already familiar with the challenges of navigating Nigeria’s sporting system, had to hold her team together as they faced what’s become an all-too-common reality in Nigerian sport: poor preparation. But when the first whistle blew, the D’Tigress made it clear, they hadn’t travelled to Ivory Coast to make up the numbers.
Nigeria opened their campaign against Rwanda, sent a warning to the continent with a ruthless 92-45 dismantling of the East Africans. Elizabeth Balogun led the way with 18 points, and the defending champions looked every bit like the unstoppable machine they’d been since 2015.
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But the smooth ride didn’t last. Mozambique tested Nigeria’s mettle in the second group game, taking the first quarter 13-9. Still, the champions dug deep to grind out a 60-55 win—a reminder that this team had more than just talent, they had tenacity.
Cameroon felt the full force of D’Tigress’ response in the quarter-finals. With a 36-point margin (83-47), Nigeria steamrolled their way into the semis, where a familiar face awaited: Senegal, now under the guidance of former Nigeria coach, Otis Hughley.
The semi-final clash against Senegal was more than a basketball game, it was a battle of philosophies, pride, and legacy. Nigeria edged the first two quarters, but the third belonged to Senegal. With the game hanging in the balance and one of their stars, Murjanatu Musa, fouled out, D’Tigress summoned all their championship DNA.
Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu delivered when it mattered most. With poise and precision, they led a fourth-quarter surge that saw Nigeria outscore Senegal 23-10 to seal a 75-68 win. It was the kind of performance that doesn’t just win games—it builds legacies.
In the final, Mali stood between D’Tigress and history. The West African giants had firepower and momentum but were up against a team on the brink of a decade-long unbeaten run at Afro Basket.
Mali won the first quarter 26-21, but Nigeria responded in kind, drawing level at halftime (41-41). The third quarter saw the defending champions seize control, and by the final buzzer, they had claimed a commanding 78-64 victory.
With that, Nigeria completed an astonishing run: five consecutive AfroBasket titles, a 29-game unbeaten streak, and a reign over African women’s basketball that is unmatched in modern history.
President Bola Tinubu’s reward package for the team was fitting for such an historic feat. Each player and official received $100,000, a three-bedroom apartment, and the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
But the rewards weren’t just financial or symbolic—they were affirmations. They acknowledged the struggles of these athletes, the inequities they’ve endured, and the excellence they’ve consistently delivered regardless.
What D’Tigress accomplished in Abidjan wasn’t just a win for Nigerian basketball—it was a win for every African girl told that sport isn’t for her. It was a triumph over neglect, over doubt, and over a system that too often fails those it should uplift.
From logistical chaos to continental champions, D’Tigress proved that talent alone doesn’t win titles—heart does. Their story is one of defiance and determination, of teamwork and trust. And as they stood on the podium for the fifth time in a row, it was clear: they are not just queens of African basketball. They are champions of hope.
