Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has climbed to 8th place in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, following a landmark performance at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan.
The updated rankings, released on Thursday, August 14, show Nigeria jumping three spots from 11th to 8th, with 640.1 points. This achievement cements D’Tigress as the only African team ever to break into the global top 10.
The United States continues to dominate the rankings with 880.9 points, followed by Australia (719.6) and France (719.2). China (712.7) and Belgium (702.1) complete the top five, while Spain, Canada, and Nigeria round out the elite eight.
This ranking boost comes just weeks after D’Tigress made history by clinching a fifth consecutive AfroBasket title—an unprecedented feat for any African men’s or women’s team. In the final, they defeated their opponents 78–64 at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, securing their seventh AfroBasket crown overall. With the win, D’Tigress extended their remarkable unbeaten streak in the competition to 29 games, a run that dates back to 2015.
Elsewhere in the rankings:
- Lithuania soared 14 places to 31st after reaching the quarter-finals in their first EuroBasket appearance in a decade.
- South Sudan delivered one of the tournament’s standout stories, claiming third place on their AfroBasket Women debut.
- Lebanon jumped 13 spots to 41st.
- Indonesia climbed 19 places to 60th following their performance at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025.
- Iran rose 15 places to 44th, and Mongolia surged 20 spots to 70th after competing in Division B of the same tournament.
D’Tigress’ continued dominance underscores their status as a powerhouse in African basketball and an emerging force on the global stage.
