Media Team
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has claimed the top spot as Africa’s best team.
The squad rose to 8th position in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings after their dominant display at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan.
Released on Thursday, 14 August, the updated rankings show Nigeria climbing three spots from 11th to 8th, securing 640.1 ranking points.
D’Tigress remains the sole African team to ever break into the top 10 globally.
The United States maintains its lead with 880.9 points, trailed by Australia (719.6) and France (719.2). China (712.7) and Belgium (702.1) hold the fourth and fifth positions, while Spain, Canada, and Nigeria complete the top eight.
This ranking surge follows D’Tigress’ historic achievement of securing a fifth straight AfroBasket title, a record unmatched by any African team, men or women.
In the championship game, the defending champions delivered a strong 78–64 win at the Palais des Sports de Treichville.
The victory marked their seventh AfroBasket championship overall and extended their unbeaten streak in the tournament to 29 games, a run beginning in 2015.
Lithuania, making its FIBA Women’s EuroBasket return after a decade and advancing to the quarter-finals, leaped 14 places to 31st.
South Sudan made a stunning debut, finishing third in their first AfroBasket Women appearance.
Lebanon rose 13 spots to 41st, while Indonesia climbed 19 places to 60th after competing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025.
Iran saw a 15-place jump to 44th, and Mongolia surged 20 spots to 70th following their Division B performance in the same tournament.
