D’Tigress Draw Tough Group In 2025 AfroBasket Title Defence

By: Gyang Dakwo

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, now know who they will face in the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket, and the road to defending their title is set to be challenging.

In a draw held on Wednesday at the Hôtel des Armées in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, D’Tigress were placed in Group D alongside Mozambique and Rwanda. The 12-nation tournament is scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 3 at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan.

D’Tigress go into the competition as the team to beat. They are the reigning champions and have won the last four editions of the AfroBasket – in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. They also have six titles in total, making them the most successful team in the history of African women’s basketball.

However, Group D will not be easy. Both Mozambique and Rwanda have improved in recent years and will be looking to make a statement by challenging the champions early in the tournament.

The AfroBasket tournament is the biggest stage for women’s basketball in Africa. Twelve teams have been split into four groups of three, and only the top teams will progress to the knockout stage.

Here are the full groupings:

Group A: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Angola
Group B: Mali, Cameroon, South Sudan
Group C: Senegal, Uganda, Guinea
Group D: Nigeria, Mozambique, Rwanda

All eyes will be on D’Tigress as they aim to make history by winning a fifth consecutive title and further cement their legacy as Africa’s basketball queens.