In an achievement that has electrified the sporting world, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has secured a place among the top 10 teams in the FIBA Women’s World Rankings — a feat unmatched by any African side before them.
Announced Thursday, the update sees Nigeria climb from 11th to 8th place with 640.1 points, following their dominant AfroBasket 2025 victory in Abidjan. Their 78–64 final win not only earned them a seventh continental title but also extended an astonishing unbeaten AfroBasket streak to 29 games, dating back to 2015.
The United States tops the rankings with 880.9 points, followed by Australia (719.6), France (719.2), China (712.7), and Belgium (702.1). Spain, Canada, and now Nigeria round out the prestigious top eight.
D’Tigress’ relentless consistency has redefined African women’s basketball, with five consecutive AfroBasket titles — a record unchallenged by any other team on the continent.
Internationally, Lithuania’s return to the Women’s EuroBasket after a decade saw them jump 14 places to 31st. South Sudan impressed in their debut to claim third place at AfroBasket, while Lebanon, Indonesia, Iran, and Mongolia also made significant leaps in global standings.
For African basketball, this is not just a ranking update — it is a bold declaration that the gap between continents is closing fast, and Nigeria is leading the charge.