- Ezinne Kalu, Amy Okonkwo lead Nigeria to seventh AfroBasket crown
- D’Tigress is unbeaten in 29 straight games since 2015
- Final Score: Nigeria 78–64 Mali
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, reaffirmed their dominance on the continent with a commanding 78–64 victory over Mali in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.
The win delivers Nigeria’s fifth consecutive AfroBasket title — an unprecedented achievement in African women’s basketball — and their seventh overall. It also extends their extraordinary 10-year unbeaten run in the tournament to 29 games, a streak dating back to 2015.
Mali started strongly, edging the first quarter 26–21 with aggressive defensive pressure and efficient scoring in the paint. However, Nigeria responded with tactical adjustments, winning the second quarter 20–15 to take a narrow lead into halftime.
The defending champions maintained their momentum in the third quarter, matching their second-quarter output with another 20–15 period. In the fourth, D’Tigress tightened their defense significantly, limiting Mali to just 8 points while pulling away to secure a 14-point victory.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scores
Quarter 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇲🇱 Mali
Q1 21 26
Q2 20 15
Q3 20 15
Q4 17 8
Final 78 64
Key Performers – Nigeria 🇳🇬
Ezinne Kalu: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists
Amy Okonkwo: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
M. Musa: 9 points, 12 rebounds
Victoria Macaulay: 10 points
Promise Amukamara: 8 points
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah: 9 points
Key Performers – Mali 🇲🇱
Sika Koné: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists
Djeneba N'Diaye: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Sira Thienou: 12 points, 4 rebounds
Mariam Cisse: 8 points, 5 rebounds
Team Statistics
Category Nigeria 🇳🇬 Mali 🇲🇱
Field Goal % 49% (30/61) 37% (22/60)
3-Point % 33% (8/24) 27% (7/26)
Free Throw % 67% (10/15) 81% (13/16)
Rebounds 36 37
Assists 24 16
Turnovers 14 18
Steals 8 7
Biggest Lead 14 points 8 points
Time in Lead 28:05 10:39
Historic Achievement
This triumph adds to Nigeria’s AfroBasket titles in 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023, further solidifying their status as Africa’s premier women’s basketball team. The five consecutive championships are unmatched in African women’s basketball history.
The victory also marked the second straight AfroBasket final win over Mali, underscoring Nigeria’s consistency at the highest level.
Looking Ahead
With Olympic qualifiers approaching, D’Tigress will aim to carry their continental dominance to the global stage. The depth, discipline, and resilience that defined this championship run suggest that Nigeria’s era of supremacy is far from over.
Final Score:
🇳🇬 Nigeria 78 – 64 🇲🇱 Mali
D’Tigress: Champions of Africa. Unbeaten for a decade.
D’Tigress are champions again — because greatness isn’t claimed, it’s proven.
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