Shola Akinyele
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has once again etched its name in the history books, winning the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time, defeating Mali 78–64 in a thrilling final held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The dominant performance completes what fans are calling “Mission V” — a legendary five-peat spanning 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and now 2025, solidifying Nigeria’s place as the undisputed queens of African basketball.
Amy Okonkwo led the charge, earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a place in the All-Star 5. While no official award was presented for Best Coach, supporters praised Coach Rena Wakama for her tactical brilliance, with many insisting she deserved the title.
The record-breaking victory comes just days after the Super Falcons secured their own legacy with a 10th WAFCON title — dubbed “Mission X” — and received generous presidential rewards including \$100,000, three-bedroom apartments, and national honors.
In a move widely applauded by fans and advocates for women in sports, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended the same recognition to D’Tigress. Each player will receive \$100,000, a fully furnished flat, and be conferred with the title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Members of the technical crew will also receive \$50,000 each.
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