PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, for reaching the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament.
Nigeria’s D’Tigress advanced to the final of the 2025 Afrobasket after a hard-fought victory over Senegal on Saturday, August 2.
In a tightly contested match at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Nigerian side triumphed 75–68.
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 3, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended the team for their resilience and continued dominance in African women’s basketball.
“I have observed the discipline, focus, and team spirit consistently displayed by D’Tigress throughout this tournament—qualities that have brought honour to our nation and earned respect for our players and coaches worldwide,” Tinubu said.
The game lived up to its billing as a clash of heavyweights, with D’Tigress narrowly taking the first quarter 22–17 in a high-tempo battle.
Despite Senegal’s strong and determined performance, Nigeria held their ground and edged the second quarter 21–20 to maintain their lead.
D’Tigress struggled in the third quarter, as Senegal staged a strong comeback with a commanding 21–9 run that shifted the momentum in their favour.
With seven minutes remaining, Senegal took a 68–62 lead, setting the stage for a tense and fiercely contested fight for a spot in the final.
The President also lauded the team for qualifying for the 2026 Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments set for March 2026.
He gave special recognition to the head coach Rena Wakama, praising her leadership and dedication to the team’s success.
He noted that, as the team’s first female head coach, Wakama’s experience, both as a former player and now from the sidelines, continues to inspire D’Tigress to reach new heights in the competitive world of basketball.
Similarly, presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has lauded Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, for their impressive comeback win against Senegal in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Obi applauded the team’s resilience and undefeated streak, calling their performance a proud moment for the nation.
“Congratulations, D’Tigress. You gave an incredible semi-final performance. I watched with all smiles and so much pride as you came from behind in the third quarter to show true dominance and secure your place in the finals,”Obi stated on his social media handle.
“You have made Nigeria proud yet again. A ten-year unbeaten streak is nothing but dominance. As you prepare for the finals, we are all with you, cheering you to make history once again. Finish what you started. Nigeria stands with you. Bring the trophy home,” he added.
Despite the setback, Nigeria’s D’Tigress mounted a remarkable comeback, outscoring Senegal 23–10 in the final quarter to seal a 75–68 victory.
Earlier, D’Tigress had cruised into the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket with a dominant 83–47 win over Cameroon on Thursday night.
With their semi-final qualification, Nigeria, along with Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan, have all earned spots in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments set for March.
The four African teams will join 20 others, including Brazil, Argentina, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Colombia, who will represent the Americas, in the global qualifiers.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org