As Nigeria’s D’Tigress gear up for a crucial showdown against Mali in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has urged the team to remain focused and finish the job.
The reigning African champions booked their place in Sunday’s final after a dramatic 75-68 victory over arch-rivals Senegal at the Palais des Sports de Treichville. Despite falling behind by nine points early in the first quarter and trailing by as much as 12 in the third, the Nigerian side mounted a fierce comeback to seal a hard-fought win.
Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, praised the team’s resilience and spirit, describing them as “a history-making team” and the embodiment of Nigeria’s unrelenting drive.
“These girls are the true definition of the Nigerian spirit. They didn’t panic under pressure. Even when it looked like the game was slipping away, they held their nerve and delivered when it mattered most,” Dikko said.
The win over Senegal extended D’Tigress’ unbeaten run in the tournament to 28 games since 2015 and put them within touching distance of a fifth consecutive continental title.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, also lauded the team’s mental strength and composure, particularly in the face of a fired-up Senegalese squad determined to avenge past final defeats.
“Senegal threw everything at us, but our ladies showed class, maturity, and a champion’s mindset. That’s why they’ve remained dominant,” Olopade said. “We must now stay focused and not get carried away. Mali will not be an easy opponent.”
Mali advanced to the final after a convincing 76-50 win over tournament debutants South Sudan. The West African side, who last won the Afrobasket in 2007, are determined to end Nigeria’s reign and reclaim continental glory.
The final will be a repeat of the 2021 clash in Cameroon, which D’Tigress won 70-59, and promises to be another thrilling encounter between two of Africa’s basketball powerhouses.
Despite the pressure, the NSC has expressed full confidence in the squad and their coach, Rena Wakama, who guided the team to victory in the fourth quarter against Senegal with a stunning 28-15 run.
As the team prepares for Sunday’s final, the NSC leadership emphasized the need for concentration and discipline, urging the players to block out distractions and focus solely on the task ahead.
“Let’s finish strong,” Dikko said. “We’ve come this far together. One more win, and history will remember this team forever.”
Tip-off for the final is scheduled for 7 PM local time on Sunday.
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