President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a high-powered government delegation to Abidjan to support Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, as they pursue a fifth consecutive AfroBasket title.
The delegation, led by Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, represents the full weight of national pride, belief, and support for the team.
In a show of solidarity, President Tinubu’s gesture underscores the government’s commitment to promoting sports and recognizing the achievements of Nigerian athletes.
In a post on his official X handle, the President urged the team, led by coach Rena Wakama, not to “rest on your oars until the final victory is won.”
Persecondnews reports that this message echoes the Nigerian leader’s previous sentiments when he congratulated D’Tigress on their historic qualification for the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
At the time, he commended the team for their “uncommon demonstration of resilience, teamwork, and diligence.”
The 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket final pits Nigeria against Mali in a highly anticipated rematch.
Both teams have a rich history, with each claiming three wins in six meetings at AfroBasket tournaments since 2011.
Nigeria’s 70-59 victory over Mali in the 2021 final marked their third consecutive title.
With eight players from each team returning from the 2021 final, this matchup promises to be intense.
D’Tigress has dominated the tournament, topping Group D, defeating Cameroon in the quarterfinals, and edging Senegal 75-68 in the semis.
They boast impressive stats, averaging 77.5 points per game, the highest in the tournament, and have a better shooting percentage from the field and beyond the arc.
Mali, however, is no pushover. They were unbeaten in Group B and cruised past Cameroon and South Sudan to reach the final.
The team leads in rebounds (48.5 per game) and assists (22 per game), making them a formidable opponent.
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