By Joe Apu
Reigning champions Nigeria will open their FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 campaign with a high-stakes clash against Rwanda on Friday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as the D’Tigress seeks to extend their iron grip on the continental game.
Since 2017, the Nigerian women’s basketball team has ruled Africa with an air of invincibility, lifting the trophy in Mali (2017), Senegal (2019), Cameroon (2021), and Rwanda (2023). They now stand on the brink of history — aiming for an unprecedented fifth consecutive title, a feat that would further cement their legacy as the continent’s most dominant women’s team.
This tournament also marks a significant chapter in the D’Tigress journey, as head coach Rena Wakama, who made history in 2023 as the first female coach to win the AfroBasket title, returns to lead the squad. Her appointment sparked both celebration and curiosity — but she quickly silenced the doubters by steering Nigeria to gold on Rwandan soil, just weeks into the job.
Wakama has opted for continuity, naming a final 12-player roster with eight players from the last edition in the squad, only slight changes from the championship-winning side of two years ago and the return of Ezinne Kalu. The team is laced with experience, athleticism, and grit — traits that have become hallmarks of D’Tigress basketball.
Returning stars include floor general Promise Amukamara, crafty playmaker Ezinne Kalu, and sharp-shooting Elizabeth Balogun. The forward line features powerhouses Amy Okonkwo and Nicole Enabosi, while the defensive presence of Blessing Ejiofor and Murjanatu Musa adds strength in the paint. Veterans Victoria Macaulay, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah, Vera Ojenwa, Ifunaya Okoro, and Sarah Ogoke round out a formidable squad.
Their first test comes against Rwanda — a team on the rise and full of belief after reaching the semifinals in the last edition. But D’Tigress, with their unmatched depth, championship mentality, and the tactical edge of Wakama, will be favoured to assert their dominance early.
For Nigeria, the mission is clear: defend the crown, rewrite the record books, and remind Africa — once again — that women’s basketball wears green and white.
