Senator Oluremi Tinubu has praised Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, for their historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket Women title, lauding them as an inspiration to girls and women across the country.
“You are true inspirations and a source of pride to girls and women in general. Thank you for keeping the Nigerian flag flying,” the First Lady said in a statement released late Sunday.
In the final on Sunday, D’Tigress defeated Mali 78–64 in a closely contested match, showing remarkable resilience and composure to secure their seventh AfroBasket title.
The victory extended their dominance in African women’s basketball, marking their 29th consecutive win without a single defeat since 2015.
As seen in their earlier matches, Nigeria started slowly but regained their footing in the second quarter, levelling the score at 41–41 by half-time.
To reach the final, the team had overcome a tough challenge from Senegal, winning 75–68 in what many dubbed the “final before the final”.
Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu delivered standout performances in Sunday’s final. Okonkwo scored 19 points, while Kalu added 20, including several key baskets during the second and third quarters.
Promise Amukamara and Victoria Macaulay also contributed significantly, and Musa chipped in with nine vital points and four rebounds, once again demonstrating the depth of talent in the Nigerian squad.
The third quarter proved crucial, with Nigeria tightening their defence and outscoring Mali 20–15. They entered the fourth quarter leading 61–56 and maintained control to seal the win.
The victory solidifies D’Tigress’ status as the most dominant women’s basketball team in Africa.