Mali, chasing their first title since 2007, were left to settle for a second silver in three editions, falling to the Nigerians again.
Nigeria extended their dominance in African women’s basketball with a commanding 78-64 win over Mali in the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket final on Sunday in Abidjan, claiming their fifth straight continental title.
The win not only cemented Nigeria’s place in AfroBasket history, with a record 29 consecutive wins, but also booked them a spot in the World Cup Qualifying Tournaments ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin.
It was a repeat of the 2021 final, and though Mali started strong, Nigeria took control in the third quarter and held on, even as Mali briefly cut the gap to four points late in the game.
Mali, chasing their first title since 2007, were left to settle for a second silver in three editions, falling to the Nigerians again.
In the third-place playoff, debutants South Sudan pulled off a dramatic 66-65 win over Senegal. After blowing a 16-point lead and trailing by four in the fourth, the Bright Starlets held their nerve, with Nyamer Lual Diew hitting the decisive free throw with six seconds left.
The result made South Sudan the first team in Women’s AfroBasket history to win a medal on debut.
Senegal, meanwhile, missed out on the podium for just the second time in 20 years.
Nigeria’s Amy Okonkwo was named tournament MVP and headlined the All-Star Five, joined by Senegal’s Cierra Dillard, South Sudan’s Delicia Washington, Uganda’s Jane Asinde and Mali’s Sika Koné.
All four semifinalists—Nigeria, Mali, South Sudan, and Senegal—qualified for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Final Standing of the 2025 FIBA Women's AfroBasket
1. Nigeria
2. Mali
3. South Sudan
4. Senegal
5. Cameroon
6. Mozambique
7. Cote d'Ivoire
8. Uganda
9. Egypt
10. Angola
11. Rwanda
12. Guinea