D'Tigress extend uneaten streak, seal fifth consecutive FIBA Afrobasket final
Nigeria’s D’Tigress extended their incredible unbeaten run to 28 games with a hard-fought 75–68 victory over arch-rivals Senegal in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament on Saturday. The game took place at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Led by coach Rena Wakama, the reigning champions came into the clash riding a 27-game winning streak a run that began with the third-place playoff at the 2015 tournament in Cameroon. They had also won all three games in the current campaign leading up to the semis.
D’Tigress opened their title defense with a dominant 92–45 win over Rwanda, followed by a 60–55 victory against Mozambique. They then cruised past Cameroon 83–47 in the quarter-finals, sealing both a semi-final berth and a place in next year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament.
Facing a physical and fired-up Senegalese side coached by Otis Hughley, Nigeria had to dig deep. After trailing early, the defending champions bounced back to take the first quarter 22–17, and edged the second quarter 21–20 to enter halftime with a 43–37 lead.
Senegal came out swinging in the third quarter, flipping the momentum with a 21–9 run that gave them a six-point lead heading into the final frame. But D’Tigress responded like true champions.
Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu led a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, combining for key baskets in crunch time. Despite losing Murjanatu Musa, a former Phoenix Mercury centre to foul trouble early in the fourth, Nigeria dominated the final 10 minutes 23–10 to seal the win.
The result books Nigeria’s place in a fifth consecutive AfroBasket final, where they’ll be aiming for a historic seventh African title later today by 7pm.
Top performers included Kalu with 19 points and six rebounds, Promise Amukamara added 16 points, while Okonkwo and Victoria Macaulay contributed 15 and 13 points respectively.
For Senegal, Cierra Dillard put on a standout display with 26 points, while Ndioma Kane added 14 in a losing effort. The Senegalese will now play in the third-place contest.
