From five straight AfroBasket titles to 0-3 in Berlin: D'Tigress begin a rebuild

Why now

In August 2025, D'Tigress beat Mali 78-64 in Abidjan to win their fifth straight Women's AfroBasket title. No team in the competition's history had done that, and it took Nigeria to seven titles in total, level with Senegal's record. A year later, at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, they lost all three group games.

Both things are true at once. Nigeria are the best women's basketball team in Africa, and they are some way short of the best teams in the world. The question for the next two years is how to close that gap.

How they got to Berlin

The AfroBasket win in Abidjan earned Nigeria an automatic place at the World Cup. It was not easy. Mali led 26-21 after the first quarter and the scores were level at 41-41 at half-time before Nigeria pulled away. In the semi-final, D'Tigress came from behind to beat Senegal 75-68.

What happened in Berlin

South Korea 99-81 Nigeria

The opener set the tone. South Korea scored freely and Nigeria could not keep pace.

Hungary 71-67 Nigeria

This was the one that got away. Nigeria defended much better and stayed close throughout, but shooting let them down. D'Tigress made 7 of 25 three-pointers and 12 of 23 free throws. Hungary held their nerve in the closing minutes.

France 111-56 Nigeria

The final game was the heaviest defeat in D'Tigress history and their biggest at a Women's World Cup. There was one bright note: young forward Grace Efosa-Aguebor led Nigeria with 15 points in about 20 minutes, and Elizabeth Balogun added 11.

What the coach and captain said

Wakama was direct afterwards. She said the team could not rely on success from two years ago, a reference to the run to the quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and that preparation needs to reach another level. Captain Amy Okonkwo said the team struggled to find its rhythm early against France.

What the rebuild means

• Getting Nigeria's best available players into camp together, with enough time to build an identity.
• Better preparation before major tournaments, including stronger warm-up opposition.
• Giving young players like Efosa-Aguebor and Maryam Dauda meaningful minutes now, so they are ready in two years.

Wakama also pointed to the growing number of Nigerians playing in the WNBA and other elite leagues as a reason for optimism. The talent pool is deeper than it has ever been. The challenge is turning a pool of talented players into a team.

Remember Paris

It is worth remembering how high this team flew recently. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, D'Tigress reached the quarter-finals, a landmark for African women's basketball. Two years later, the Berlin results show how quickly the gap can open at the top level when a squad is in transition and preparation is short.

What to watch next

The next test is whether D'Tigress can keep their grip on Africa while they rebuild. A sixth straight AfroBasket title would show the foundations are still strong. The Super Falcons face similar questions after their WAFCON exit.