Nigeria’s women’s basketball powerhouse, D’Tigress, have reached a new milestone, climbing to an all-time high of 8th place in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings after their record-setting triumph at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan.
The updated standings, released on Thursday, 14 August, show Nigeria rising three places from 11th to 8th, with 640.1 ranking points.
This achievement keeps D’Tigress as the only African side ever to crack the global top 10.
At the summit of the rankings, the United States remain unshaken with 880.9 points, followed by Australia (719.6) and France (719.2). China (712.7) and Belgium (702.1) complete the top five, with Spain, Canada, and now Nigeria rounding out the elite eight.
The ranking boost follows D’Tigress’ historic run to a fifth straight AfroBasket crown — an unprecedented feat for any men’s or women’s team in Africa.
In the championship game, they subdued Mali with a convincing 78–64 victory at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, securing their seventh title overall.
The win also stretched their stunning unbeaten streak in the tournament to 29 games, a run that dates back to 2015.
The squad’s dominance was anchored by seasoned stars such as Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara, emerging talents like Elizabeth Balogun and Murjanatu Musa, and the competition’s top scorer, Amy Okonkwo, who averaged 14.9 points per game.
The latest FIBA rankings also spotlight changes within African women’s basketball. Mali, reaching their first AfroBasket final since 2009, surged six spots to 18th globally. On the other hand, Senegal, once a dominant force, remain outside the top 20 after a series of disappointing performances.
Nigeria’s leap to 8th firmly consolidates their status as Africa’s number one and enhances their global reputation heading into the next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Global shake-ups
Beyond Africa, several nations made significant gains. Lithuania, back in the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket for the first time in a decade and advancing to the quarter-finals, shot up 14 places to 31st.
One of the standout stories came from South Sudan, whose debut at the AfroBasket Women ended with a historic bronze medal.
That podium finish sparked a massive 31-place rise to 55th, an extraordinary leap for a team that was outside the top 100 just last year.
Elsewhere, Lebanon climbed 13 spots to 41st, Indonesia jumped 19 places to 60th after their Asia Cup campaign, Iran rose 15 spots to 44th, and Mongolia soared 20 places to 70th following their Division B performance in the same competition.