ABUJA, NIGERIA – As preparations intensify for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship set to hold in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has unveiled the preliminary squad for the national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress.
The announcement signals the commencement of the team’s build-up to the continental tournament, with training expected to begin in the coming weeks. The squad features a blend of returning stars, promising home-based talents, and new additions drawn from the diaspora.
The list includes experienced names who were instrumental in Nigeria’s previous continental success, including past MVPs and players currently excelling in top-tier leagues across Europe and the United States. It also reflects the federation’s ongoing efforts to deepen the talent pool and maintain Nigeria’s dominance on the African basketball stage.
Officials of the NBBF stated that the preliminary roster will be pruned down after a training camp scheduled to hold in Lagos before the team departs for Abidjan. Head Coach Rena Wakama is expected to lead the technical crew, continuing her leadership since guiding D’Tigress to victory in the last edition of the tournament.
Nigeria, a four-time defending champion, is tipped once again as a favourite for the 2025 title. The D’Tigress team remains Africa’s highest-ranked women’s basketball side and will be aiming to extend their winning streak while also preparing for future global competitions, including the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The Afrobasket Championship will tip off later this year in Côte d’Ivoire, bringing together elite teams from across the continent in what promises to be a fiercely contested tournament.
