ABUJA (Nigeria) - The only way to describe Nigeria’s D’Tigress is as the team of the decade in Africa.
Despite facing ups and downs, Nigeria has shown unparalleled dominance across the continent over the last ten years.
Rena Wakama, named the 2024 Paris Olympics Coach of the Year, will lead Nigeria at her second Women’s AfroBasket. She aims to become the first female to win two titles in the competition's history.
Nigeria’s roster usually consists of a combination of domestic and international players with diverse basketball backgrounds.
Since Nigeria's 65-55 victory over Angola in the 2015 Women’s AfroBasket third-place game in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the team has remained undefeated.
Over the subsequent four editions of the tournament, Nigeria amassed an impressive 24-0 winning streak, winning four consecutive Women’s AfroBasket titles.
Only Senegal has won as many consecutive African titles.
Nigeria’s success against African opponents was also evident outside the continent, where they achieved a 3–0 record.
In February 2024, Nigeria defeated Senegal 72–57 in Belgium during the 2024 Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).
Four years earlier, in Belgrade, Serbia, Nigeria defeated Mozambique 85-51 to secure a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
During the 2022 World Cup qualifying tournament in Serbia, Nigeria overcame Mali 73–69 to qualify for the World Cup in Austria. However, Nigeria eventually withdrew from the tournament. Mali replaced Nigeria in the event.
At the 2019 FIBA Women’s Pre-Qualifying Olympic Tournament in Maputo, Mozambique, Nigeria finished with a record of 2-0, thanks to victories over the hosts (57-48) and Mali (74-59).
Since 2015, Nigeria has held an overall 29-0 winning record against African nations in games played on the continent or elsewhere.
Nigeria, which was ranked 8th in the world at one point in 2024, is heading to Abidjan as the number one team in Africa.
Everyone is wondering whether Nigeria can set a record by winning their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title. Only time will tell.
FIBA