In a historic achievement for African basketball, Nigeria’s women’s national team, D’Tigress, has broken into the top 10 of the FIBA world rankings.
The six-time AfroBasket champions rose four spots in the latest rankings released on Thursday by the world basketball governing body, becoming the first African team—male or female—to achieve this milestone.
The team’s remarkable ascent in the global rankings was fueled by their outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics. D’Tigress made headlines by defeating Australia in their opening game, marking their first Olympic victory in 20 years. Despite a setback in their second game against France, the team bounced back to secure a historic win over Canada, making them the first African side to reach the quarter-finals of the Olympic basketball event.
Nigeria’s journey in the tournament eventually ended with a hard-fought loss to the United States in the quarter-finals. However, the team’s exceptional performance throughout the competition earned them a well-deserved place among the world’s elite.
Rena Wakama, the head coach of D’Tigress, was also honored with the title of the best coach of the women’s basketball event, further highlighting the team’s success.
In the global rankings, the United States, reigning Olympic champions, continue to hold the top spot, followed by Australia and France. China and Spain round out the top five teams in women’s basketball.
D’Tigress’ historic rise to the top 10 is a significant achievement for African sports, setting a new standard for basketball on the continent and inspiring future generations of players.