In what promises to be a blockbuster encounter, Nigeria’s D’Tigress will square off against arch-rivals Senegal today in the semifinals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket in Abidjan. This clash brings together two of Africa’s most storied women’s basketball nations, with a spot in the final and a chance at continental history on the line.
Senegal, the most decorated team in Afrobasket history with 11 titles, will be seeking to halt the dominant run of D’Tigress, who are chasing a record-extending fifth consecutive title and seventh overall. Nigeria’s remarkable reign began in 2017, and they have remained unbeaten on the continent since 2015, currently riding a 27-game winning streak in Afrobasket competition.
The game, tipped off for 7 p.m. Nigerian time at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, is being billed as a showcase of the rising quality of women’s basketball in Africa and is expected to draw significant attention from fans and analysts across the globe.
While D’Tigress has advanced to the semifinals with three straight wins, Senegal’s path has been less straightforward. The West African giants suffered a surprise loss to Uganda during the group stage but rebounded strongly, defeating Rwanda in the playoffs and host nation Côte d’Ivoire in the quarterfinals.
Nigeria has won their last seven meetings against Senegal, including the 2023 final in Rwanda, which ended 84–74 in favour of D’Tigress. Their most recent faceoff came at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, in February 2024, where Nigeria once again emerged victorious, 72–65.
Despite the recent dominance, Nigeria are well aware of the threat posed by their closest continental rivals. D’Tigress know that only a complete performance will be enough to stay on course for an unprecedented fifth straight Afrobasket crown—an achievement that would surely be celebrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose support for Nigerian sports has been evident.
The team remains focused, drawing motivation not only from past success but also from the national pride at stake and the inspiration from recent accolades given to Nigeria’s female athletes.
SIGNED: Kola Daniel S.A. Media Office of the Director General, NSC August 2, 2025
