D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s basketball squad, has surged into the 8th spot in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, following an outstanding display at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket held in Abidjan.
This marks a notable climb from their previous 11th-place ranking, reaffirming their dominance in African basketball.
The updated standings, released Thursday, show Nigeria collecting 640.1 points, becoming the first African team ever to enter the top 10 globally. Their decisive 78–64 triumph in the AfroBasket final secured their seventh continental title and stretched their unbeaten streak to 29 matches, a run dating back to 2015.
The United States continues to lead the rankings with 880.9 points, while Australia (719.6) and France (719.2) occupy the next two positions. China (712.7) and Belgium (702.1) complete the top five, with Spain, Canada, and Nigeria finishing the top eight.
This rise coincides with D’Tigress making history by winning a fifth consecutive AfroBasket crown, an accomplishment no African men’s or women’s team has ever managed. Their overall unbeaten record in the competition now stands at 29 straight games.
Elsewhere, Lithuania made a strong return to the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket after ten years, reaching the quarter-finals and jumping 14 positions to 31st. South Sudan grabbed attention with a third-place finish in their AfroBasket Women debut, an unprecedented achievement.
Other countries also recorded gains: Lebanon moved up 13 spots to 41st, Indonesia climbed 19 places to 60th following the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025, Iran rose 15 positions to 44th, and Mongolia advanced 20 spots to 70th after competing in Division B of the same tournament.
