Ahead of their much-anticipated title defense at the 29th FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship, reigning African champions, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, paid a courtesy visit to the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja on Tuesday.

 

The team, which has dominated the African basketball scene with four consecutive Afrobasket titles, was received by the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade. The visit served as a formal sendoff and morale boost before the team departs for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where the tournament will take place from July 25 to August 3.

 

In a show of unwavering support, Mallam Dikko praised the team’s extraordinary achievements and reaffirmed the nation’s backing.

“D’Tigress have made Nigeria proud on numerous occasions, and we remain firmly behind them,” Dikko said. “Winning four straight Afrobasket titles is no small feat. You are not just champions, you are role models to a lot of young girls in Africa.”

 

The NSC Chairman encouraged the team to outline their immediate needs ahead of the tournament. In a prompt display of commitment, the Commission approved the team’s requests on the spot—an indication of its dedication to athlete welfare and performance excellence.

 

Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade also commended the team’s resilience and legacy.

“What D’Tigress have achieved is not just about the titles they’ve won,” Olopade said. “It’s also about building a legacy that speaks to courage, preparation, and unity. The NSC will continue to match their ambition with the right support, because they’ve earned more than applause.”

 

The event brought together key figures from the Nigerian sports ecosystem, including Adeboye Adeyinka Anthony, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports; Rt. Hon. Phillip Shuaibu, Director General of the National Institute of Sports; Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; Yusuf Alli, Head of Elite Athlete Development and Podium Board; and Miss Aku Aghazu, 2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

 

Nigeria enters the 2025 Women’s Afrobasket as firm favorites, having claimed victories over Senegal in the 2017, 2019, and 2023 finals, and defeating Mali in the 2021 final. Their 84–74 triumph over Senegal last year in Kigali solidified their status as the team to beat on the continent.

 

The 29th edition of the tournament will see 12 nations compete for continental glory. D’Tigress, with a blend of experience and youthful dynamism, aim to extend their golden run and clinch a historic fifth straight title.

 

As the team jets off to Abidjan, they do so with the full backing of a grateful nation and a sports commission determined to fuel their continued success.