BREAKING: Nigeria’s D’Tigress clinch AfroBasket title, spark new ‘cashout’ buzz

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have once again made history after clinching their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title with a commanding 78-64 win over Mali in the final.

The victory marks Nigeria’s seventh overall Women’s AfroBasket championship and extends their incredible unbeaten run in the tournament to 29 games under the guidance of coach Rena Wakama.

With this triumph, the West African giants have also secured automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup scheduled to be hosted in Germany.

The championship game saw D’Tigress dominate early, taking a 26-21 lead in the first quarter. Mali mounted a strong comeback, tying the game at 41-41 by halftime. However, Nigeria regained momentum in the third quarter (61-56) and sealed the win in the fourth with a final score of 78-64.

Meanwhile, Mali, Senegal, and South Africa will battle it out in the playoffs come March 2026 for the remaining African slot at the global tournament.

Following the triumph, expectations are high that President Bola Tinubu will reward the team similarly to the Super Falcons, who were honoured with national awards, real estate, and $150,000 each after winning the just concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

D’Tigress’ consistent dominance continues to elevate Nigeria’s status in African and global women’s basketball.