Nigeria's senior national women's basketball team, D’Tigress, has etched its name in the annals of history with a landmark achievement in the latest FIBA World Rankings. For the first time, an African national team, regardless of gender, has broken into the top 10 of the global rankings.
This remarkable feat follows D’Tigress’s impressive performance at the Paris Olympic Games, where they secured two wins from three games and became the first African team to advance to the quarter-finals. Their historic run included a 75-62 victory over Australia in their opening game, a loss to France, and a crucial win against Canada that propelled them into the quarter-finals.
Despite a subsequent defeat to the U.S. in the quarter-finals, D’Tigress's overall performance marked a significant milestone. The U.S. ultimately secured the gold medal and maintained its position at the top of the FIBA rankings with 883.3 points.
In the latest FIBA World Rankings, Nigeria climbed four places to secure the 8th spot, while France, after a compelling run to the final, surged to 3rd place. Germany, making their Olympic debut, moved up to 13th place following their quarter-final appearance. Serbia, another quarter-finalist, improved to 9th place.
Other movements in the rankings include Czechia and Hungary, both of whom advanced due to successful performances in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournaments. Czechia rose to 21st, while Hungary moved up to 15th. Rwanda achieved the most significant jump, ascending 12 places to 62nd. South Korea, despite reaching the final in Mexico, saw limited movement in the rankings due to Germany's impressive rise.
