By Amofokhai Williams
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on their stunning victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, describing the achievement as a proud and defining moment for the nation.
The Nigerian side, led by Coach Rena Wakama, defeated Mali in Sunday’s final at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to clinch their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title and seventh overall—a feat no other African women’s team has accomplished.
In a celebratory post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, President Tinubu praised the team’s extraordinary performance and reaffirmed his admiration for their consistency, passion, and dominance on the continental stage.
“You did it, girls! Superb performance to become 5x consecutive Champions of Africa and seventh overall. Well done, Coach Rena and the team. You have made Nigeria proud. I am expecting you all, along with the trophy,” Tinubu wrote, adding the hashtag #MissionV – Done & Dusted.
The President’s remarks come as the nation continues to applaud D’Tigress for extending their unbeaten AfroBasket run to 28 games dating back to October 2015.
Sunday’s final was a showcase of resilience, with the team overturning a first-quarter deficit to beat Mali 78–64 and dominate the final stretch.
Coach Rena Wakama, who also led the team to victory in 2023 as the first female coach to win an AfroBasket title, now boasts a perfect record of two championships in two tournaments.
President Tinubu’s message reflects the growing recognition of women’s sports in Nigeria, with D’Tigress emerging as a symbol of excellence and inspiration for the country’s youth.
Their victory also secures a spot for Nigeria in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, further bolstering their status as continental giants and global contenders.
