D’Tigress Gear Up For 2025 AfroBasket Title Defence With Star-Studded Preliminary Squad.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has unveiled a formidable 20-player preliminary squad for the D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, as they prepare to defend their continental crown at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 26 July to 3 August. The announcement, made on Thursday, signals the start of an intensive preparation phase for the reigning champions, who are chasing a historic fifth consecutive title.
The provisional roster blends seasoned veterans with emerging talents, retaining the core of the squad that clinched the 2023 AfroBasket title in Kigali, Rwanda, and made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the first African team to reach the quarter-finals. Leading the charge are experienced guards Ezinne Kalu and Precious Amukamara, alongside star forward Amy Okonkwo, who plays for Turkish giants Besiktas. The squad also sees the return of veteran Victoria Macaulay after a lengthy absence, joined by defensive stalwarts like Nicole Enabosi, Pallas Kunayi, and Elizabeth Balogun. Rising stars Solape Amusan and Grace Efosa, the latter earning her first national team call-up under coach Rena Wakama, add fresh energy to the line-up.
Other notable inclusions are Ifunaya Okoro, Murjanatu Musa, Lauren Ebo, Christabel Ezumah, Vera Ojenuwa, Izoje Uche, Gift Uchenna, Ugonne Onyiah, Blessing Ejiofor, and Abiodun Damilola Yusuf. The roster, dominated by eight power forwards who can also play as centres, showcases the team’s versatility and depth. Enabosi, a 6ft standout for Chartres Basket Féminin in France, and Kunayi, who plies her trade with Italy’s Faenza Basket Project, are expected to anchor the frontcourt.
The NBBF has outlined a robust preparation plan, including a training camp in Abuja and a three-nation friendly tournament from 18 to 20 July, featuring Togo, Kenya, and Nigeria. These “Homecoming Games” will serve as both a celebration of D’Tigress’ continental dominance and a critical evaluation phase for the final roster selection. The federation also plans to engage fans through women’s empowerment programmes and basketball camps for young talents during the tournament, marking the team’s first home appearance since their four consecutive AfroBasket triumphs (2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023).
NBBF Vice-President Babs Ogunade, speaking to the federation’s media team, emphasised their commitment to ensuring the team is in top form. “We’re leaving no stone unturned to prepare the girls for Côte d’Ivoire. The friendly tournament will allow us to showcase their talent to Nigerian fans and fine-tune our strategy,” he said. Social media buzz on X reflected excitement, with fans calling the squad “stacked” and predicting another dominant performance, though some noted the absence of a key player from the Paris 2024 Olympics, sparking speculation about the final line-up.
Drawn in Group D alongside Mozambique and Rwanda, D’Tigress are favourites to extend their reign under the guidance of coach Rena Wakama, recently honoured as the Best Women’s Olympic Basketball Coach. The team’s historic Olympic run, defeating top-ranked sides like Canada and Australia, has raised expectations for another commanding performance at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan.
As preparations intensify, the NBBF remains focused on assembling a squad capable of cementing Nigeria’s status as Africa’s basketball powerhouse. With a blend of experience, youth, and unwavering ambition, D’Tigress are poised to roar once more on the continental stage.