Ezinne Kalu, point guard for Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, is confident the team can secure a historic fifth straight title at the upcoming 2025 Women’s Afrobasket in Ivory Coast.
D’Tigress have been the dominant force in African women’s basketball over the past decade, winning four consecutive titles since 2015, matching Senegal’s record of four straight championships between 1974 and 1981. Now, the Nigerian team is aiming to surpass that milestone and etch their name in history with a fifth consecutive crown.
Despite having limited preparation time and holding their first official open scrimmage only on Sunday in Abuja, Kalu believes the players have put in the work and are ready for the challenge.
“Preparation so far has been really good. All the girls have been competing hard. We’re super excited to go to the Afrobasket and compete. We’ve been working really hard, so hopefully, all the hard work shows,” Kalu told Brila FM during the scrimmage.
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The 2019 Afrobasket Most Valuable Player acknowledged the competition will be tough but expressed full confidence in the team’s abilities. She also urged fans to expect entertaining and passionate performances from the squad.
“I’m very confident we can win this, but it won’t be easy. All the other teams have good and new players. Every game will be a fight, but we’re ready to battle in every single one.
“Nigerians should expect a show. Every game, we’re going to come out, play our hearts out, work hard, and do everything we can to win another championship,” she added.
D’Tigress are drawn in Group D alongside Mozambique and Rwanda. Their opening game will be against Mozambique at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan.
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