Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’Tigress, has achieved a historic milestone by being ranked eighth in the latest FIBA world rankings, making them the first African team—men or women—to break into the top 10 globally.
The six-time AfroBasket champions moved up four spots in the rankings released on Thursday by the world basketball governing body.
The team’s remarkable rise can be attributed to their impressive performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they defeated both Australia and Canada in the group stage, becoming the first African team to reach the Quarter-Finals.
Although their journey ended with a loss to the USA in the Quarter-Finals, their efforts earned head coach Rena Wakama the award for the best coach of the women’s basketball event.
The United States, the Olympic champions, maintain the top spot in the FIBA rankings, followed by Australia and France. China and Spain round out the top five in women’s basketball.
