President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the D’Tigress and coach Rena Wakama for securing a spot in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket on Saturday. The Nigerian team showcased remarkable determination to defeat their longstanding rivals, Senegal, with a score of 75-68 in an exciting match. Despite facing a nine-point deficit in the first quarter and a 12-point gap in the third, Nigeria rallied in the fourth quarter, silencing an enthusiastic crowd. This victory marked the Nigeria team’s 28th consecutive win at the Afrobasket since 2015, placing them just one game away from securing a fifth consecutive African title. On Sunday, President Tinubu commended the D’Tigress for their extraordinary performance in overcoming Senegal, highlighting their resilience, dominance, and consistent excellence against their West African challengers. Additionally, the D’Tigress are set to meet former champions Mali in the final of AfroBasket 2025. “This was more than just a semi-final; it was essentially the final before the actual final,” the president remarked, commending the team for not only defeating Senegal for the seventh time in a row but also for earning a spot in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. “I have witnessed the discipline, focus, and teamwork consistently shown by D’Tigress throughout this tournament—traits that have brought pride to our nation and garnered worldwide respect for our players and coaches,” he noted. He also highlighted Rena Wakama, the head coach and the first woman to lead the team, praising her motivating leadership as both a former player and a strategist. “Her guidance keeps inspiring D’Tigress to achieve greater success in this fiercely competitive sport,” the president emphasized.
