Victory for Nigeria as D’Tigress Defeats Senegal in 2025 Women Afrobasket Semi-Final

Nigeria’s D’Tigress have once again proven their dominance on the African basketball stage, defeating Senegal in a dramatic semi-final clash at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.

The thrilling encounter took place at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan and marked Nigeria’s fifth consecutive appearance in the tournament’s final since 2017.

D’Tigress had earlier secured their semi-final berth after a commanding win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals. However, the showdown with long-time rivals Senegal was a much tougher contest.

Adding to the tension was the presence of Otis Hughley on Senegal’s bench—a former head coach of D’Tigress who led the Nigerian team to three straight Afrobasket titles between 2017 and 2021.

Nigeria started the match with intensity, leading 22-17 after the first quarter. By halftime, they extended their lead to 43-37, though Senegal responded with heightened defensive pressure.

The third quarter proved difficult for the Nigerians, who scored just nine points and fell behind 58-52 going into the final quarter.

However, D’Tigress rallied in the fourth quarter with renewed energy, sharper offense, and critical defensive stops. Their spirited comeback led to a 7-point victory, securing a place in the final.

They are now set to face Mali in the championship game scheduled for Sunday, August 3.