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Nigeria’s D’Tigress have booked their spot in the final of the 2025 Women’s Afrobasket tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, following a thrilling 75-68 win over Senegal on Saturday, August 2.
The semi-final battle took place at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan and marked Nigeria’s fifth consecutive appearance in the Afrobasket final since 2017 — a testament to their dominance in African women’s basketball.
Earlier in the tournament, the D’Tigress secured their semi-final place by overpowering Cameroon in the quarter-finals. But the clash against their longtime rivals Senegal proved to be a tougher challenge.
Senegal was coached by Otis Hughley, a familiar name in Nigerian basketball circles. Hughley, who led the D’Tigress to three straight Afrobasket titles between 2017 and 2021, faced off against his former team, adding extra drama to the encounter.
Nigeria came out strong, ending the first quarter with a 22-17 lead. By halftime, they maintained a narrow advantage at 43-37, despite Senegal stepping up their defensive pressure.
The third quarter saw a dip in Nigeria’s scoring, as they managed just nine points and trailed 58-52 going into the final period. But the D’Tigress regrouped and showed resilience in the fourth quarter. With sharp defense, crucial turnovers, and clutch shooting, Nigeria mounted a comeback to seal the game with a 7-point victory.
Now, Nigeria will face either Mali in the final on Sunday, August 3. A win would make the D’Tigress the first nation ever to claim five consecutive Women’s Afrobasket titles, solidifying their legacy as Africa’s basketball queens.
