D’Tigress defeat Senegal to reach fifth straight FIBA Women’s Afrobasket final

Nigeria’s D’Tigress have secured their place in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket, following a hard-fought 75–68 victory over Senegal in a thrilling semi-final showdown on Saturday at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The win marks a fifth consecutive final appearance for the reigning champions, who have dominated African women’s basketball since 2017, further cementing their legacy as the team to beat on the continent.

D’Tigress had cruised past Cameroon in the quarterfinals with a dominant performance, but their semi-final clash with long-time rivals Senegal proved a much sterner test. Despite intense pressure and a tight scoreline for much of the game, the Nigerian side held their nerve to close out the win in the final minutes.

The Senegalese are coached by Otis Hughley, a former D’Tigress handler who guided Nigeria to three straight Afrobasket titles between 2017 and 2021.

Nigeria started brightly, taking a 22–17 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, momentum shifted in the second period as Senegal closed the gap, with the score at 43–37 heading into halftime.

The third quarter was difficult for D’Tigress, who managed just nine points and fell behind 58–52. But the Nigerian team found their rhythm in the final quarter, capitalizing on turnovers and converting crucial shots to seal a seven-point victory.

D’Tigress will now face the winner of the other semi-final between Mali and South Sudan in Sunday’s championship game.

A win would make Nigeria the first nation to claim five consecutive Women’s Afrobasket titles.