The Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, held their nerve and showed championship grit on Monday night as they overcame a spirited Mozambique side 60–55 in their final Group D match at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The nail-biting encounter tested Nigeria’s resilience as they came from behind multiple times to seal their 26th consecutive AfroBasket victory, stretching a winning streak that began in 2017.
Kalu: “We Have a Target on Our Back – We’re the Queens of Africa”
D’Tigress Star guard and key player, Ezinne Kalu also was delighted at the result while acknowledging the growing pressure that comes with being defending champions.
“It means a lot, for sure. It definitely wasn’t an easy road. We have a target on our back, which as we should, because we’re the Queens of Africa,” Ezinne Kalu said after the huge win.
“But I’m happy that we stay poised in adversity and we continue to fight no matter who we play against.”
“It’s not easy. Afrobasket is not easy. There’s so many talented individuals here, so many talented teams here.”
“It’s about just staying together, having a sisterhood, staying together inside the locker room, staying committed, staying as one, and then when we step out on the court, we just try to handle business.”
Mozambique Gave Us A Punch in the Face – Coach Wakama Admits
Nigeria were on the back foot for most of the first half, trailing 28–24 at halftime and even falling behind by as much as 11 points in the third quarter.
Mozambique’s fearless play had the crowd roaring and a potential upset brewing, but D’Tigress rallied like champions.
Head coach Rena Wakama praised Mozambique’s performance and revealed the halftime pep talk that spurred her players to victory.
“Huge credit to Mozambique. They came out and they punched us in the face,” Wakama said post-game.
“They’re a very well-coached team. They play extremely hard. I’m proud of my team, though, for overcoming.”
“It wasn’t our shooting night. It happens. I challenged my team to dig deep and make sure that we come out on top. And they did that.”
How It Happened: Quarter-by-Quarter Drama
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First Quarter: Mozambique took an early lead, ending the first period up by 4 points.
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Second Quarter: Nigeria briefly edged ahead 22–20, thanks to Murjanatu Musa’s inside work, but Mozambique responded to take a 28–24 halftime lead.
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Third Quarter: D’Tigress found themselves 11 points down at one point, but a late rally narrowed the gap.
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Fourth Quarter: Nigeria showed why they are four-time champions, executing smart plays, controlling the rebounds, and finally closing out the game 60–55.
D’Tigress March On: What’s Next
With two wins from two group-stage matches, Nigeria finishes top of Group D and will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the quarterfinals as they continue their quest for a record fifth consecutive AfroBasket title.
D’Tigress remain unbeaten in the AfroBasket since 2017 — a phenomenal 26-game streak that any team in the tournament is yet to do.
STAT WATCH: Key Contributors
Nigeria will return to action in the quarterfinals later this week on July 31st as they aim to continue their reign and write yet another golden chapter in African basketball history.
