Nigeria’s D’Tigress will tip off their quest for a historic fifth straight FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title today with a Group D opener against Rwanda at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The reigning champions are chasing a record no men’s or women’s team has achieved before, five Afrobasket titles in a row, and come into the tournament with momentum, pedigree, and belief.
Head coach Rena Wakama, named 2024 Paris Olympics Coach of the Year, is looking to make her own history by becoming the first female coach to win back-to-back Afrobasket titles. She led Nigeria to gold in 2023 and is now set for her second tournament at the helm.
Nigeria’s squad blends experience, athleticism, and championship DNA. Ezinne Kalu, MVP of the 2019 edition, and Amy Okonkwo, who won MVP in 2023, are back to anchor a team that hasn’t lost to an African side in nearly a decade.
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Since a bronze medal game win over Angola in 2015, D’Tigress have gone unbeaten in Afrobasket play, racking up 24 straight wins and four straight titles, an incredible feat matched only by Senegal.
This year’s 12-woman squad features: Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu, Elizabeth Balogun, Amy Okonkwo, Nicole Enabosi, Pallas Kunayi, Victoria Macaulay, Vera Ojenuwa, Blessing Ejiofor, Ifunaya Okoro, Sarah Ogoke, and Murjanatu Musa.
Nigeria’s strength over the years hasn’t just been continental. The team has impressed in Olympic and World Cup qualifiers too. In February 2024, they beat Senegal 72–57 in Belgium at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
They also dominated Mozambique 85–51 in Belgrade in 2020 to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, and edged Mali 73–69 during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Since 2015, D’Tigress boast a flawless 29-0 record against African opposition, whether at home or abroad.
Now, with the continent watching, Nigeria step onto the court today in Abidjan as the top-ranked team in Africa, with eyes set on writing a new record in African basketball.
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