Afrobasket Semifinal Showdown: Nigeria’s D’Tigress Face Senegal in Historic Rivalry Clash

Posted : 03 August 2025

Two of the most successful women’s basketball teams on the continent, Senegal and Nigeria, will face each other today in a blockbuster semifinal encounter at this year’s Afrobasket Championship.

The tournament is now down to the final four teams, and today’s showdown marks another explosive chapter in the storied rivalry between these African basketball powerhouses.

Senegal remains the most decorated women's basketball team in Africa with 11 titles, but Nigeria’s D’Tigress have dominated the past decade, winning the last four editions of the tournament since 2017.

The Nigerian women’s team has claimed a total of six Afrobasket titles and is now eyeing a seventh crown in Abidjan, including an unprecedented fifth consecutive championship.

Tonight’s match promises to be a showcase of the growing strength and talent in African women’s basketball, with global attention focused on the Palais de Sports de Treichville in Abidjan at 7 p.m. Nigerian time.

D’Tigress have not lost a game on the continent since 2015 and are currently on a 27-game winning streak, including three straight wins in this year’s tournament.

Senegal, on the other hand, had a more turbulent path to the semifinals. They suffered a surprise group stage loss to Uganda but bounced back with victories over Rwanda in the playoffs and host nation Côte d’Ivoire in the quarterfinals.

Nigeria has won its last seven meetings against Senegal since 2015, including the final of the last Afrobasket edition in Rwanda, where they secured an 84–74 victory. The most recent clash between the two teams occurred in Antwerp, Belgium, during the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament for the Paris 2024 Games, which Nigeria also won 72–65.

All signs point to a thrilling game today. However, D’Tigress knows that despite their dominance and head-to-head advantage, they cannot afford to underestimate their closest rivals if they want to make history with a fifth consecutive title.

The team and its officials are drawing inspiration from the support shown by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who gave a hero’s welcome to the Super Falcons after their WAFCON triumph in Morocco. D’Tigress hopes to return home to a similar celebration.

Afrobasket Semifinal Showdown: Nigeria’s D’Tigress Face Senegal in Historic Rivalry Clash

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