In a landmark achievement, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have climbed to 8th place in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, becoming the only African team ever to break into the top 10.
The updated rankings, released Thursday, 14 August, see Nigeria leap from 11th to 8th with 640.1 points, following their record-breaking performance at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan.
The United States remain No. 1 with 880.9 points, followed by Australia (719.6), France (719.2), China (712.7), and Belgium (702.1). Spain, Canada, and now Nigeria complete the top eight.
This rise comes just weeks after D’Tigress captured a fifth consecutive AfroBasket title—a feat unmatched by any men’s or women’s team in African basketball history.
In the final, they overcame a determined Mali side 78–64 at the Palais des Sports de Treichville.
The victory marked their seventh AfroBasket crown and extended their unbeaten run in the tournament to 29 games, a streak dating back to 2015.
The team’s dominance blends veteran leadership from Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara with the emerging talent of Elizabeth Balogun and Murjanatu Musa. Tournament scoring leader Amy Okonkwo averaged 14.9 points per game.
The new rankings also highlight a shifting African basketball landscape. Mali climbed six places to 18th after reaching their first final since 2009, while Senegal—once a powerhouse—slipped out of the top 20 after disappointing performances.
Globally, Lithuania jumped 14 places to 31st after making the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket quarter-finals for the first time in a decade.
Meanwhile, debutants South Sudan impressed with a historic third-place finish at AfroBasket Women 2025.
Nigeria’s surge to 8th solidifies their status as Africa’s No. 1 team and boosts their global profile ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
