Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, began their 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket campaign with an emphatic statement of intent, blowing out Rwanda 92 to 45 in their opening Group D match in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The defending champions, aiming for a historic fifth consecutive title, wasted no time asserting their dominance on both ends of the court. From the opening tip, D’Tigress overwhelmed their East African opponents with superior physicality, ball movement, and suffocating defensive pressure.
Elizabeth Balogun led the scoring charge with a standout performance, finishing with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in just over 26 minutes of play. The forward was highly efficient, converting 8 of her 11 field goal attempts, and played with confidence and poise throughout the contest.
She was ably supported by team captain Amy Okonkwo, who chipped in 10 points, while Ifunanya Okoro contributed 11 points, along with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, showcasing her all-round game and energy on both ends of the floor.
Also making solid contributions were Murjanatu Musa and Victoria Macaulay, who scored 12 and 13 points, respectively. Both players played key roles in Nigeria’s dominance in the paint and on the glass.
The depth of Nigeria’s roster was on full display, as 11 different players got on the scoreboard. The bench unit not only added offensive firepower but also maintained the team’s defensive intensity, ensuring that there was no drop in performance whenever substitutions were made.
Statistically, Nigeria’s shooting efficiency was remarkable. The team shot 57.4% from the field, a reflection of their excellent shot selection and ball movement. They dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 48 boards compared to Rwanda’s 26, which led to multiple second-chance opportunities.
On defense, D’Tigress were relentless. The team recorded 15 steals and forced numerous turnovers, disrupting Rwanda’s offensive rhythm throughout the game. Rwanda were held to just 31% shooting from the field, struggling to find any offensive consistency or space against Nigeria’s well-drilled defense.
The comprehensive win not only boosts Nigeria’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages but also sends a strong message to the rest of the continent. D’Tigress are not just in Abidjan to defend their title; they are here to dominate.
This latest victory continues Nigeria’s impressive record against Rwanda. The two sides have met three times in AfroBasket history before now, with Nigeria coming out on top in each encounter. Most recently, they clashed in the 2023 semi-finals, where D’Tigress again cruised to victory.
Nigeria came into the 2025 tournament as the top-ranked team in Africa, and their recent success has also seen them reach as high as eighth in the FIBA global rankings in 2024, an unprecedented feat for any African women’s basketball team. The team’s sustained dominance since 2017, which includes four consecutive AfroBasket titles, highlights a golden era for women’s basketball in Nigeria.
As the competition progresses, Nigeria will next face Mozambique in their second Group D fixture. A win would all but guarantee a place in the quarter-finals and bring them one step closer to achieving a record-breaking fifth consecutive AfroBasket title.
With their blend of experience, youthful energy, and tactical discipline under head coach Rena Wakama, D’Tigress are clearly the team to beat in Abidjan. Their opening game performance not only thrilled fans but reaffirmed their status as queens of African basketball.
