Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has moved up to 8th place in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, following their record-breaking performance at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan.

 

 

 

In the list released on Thursday, 14 August, the updated rankings see Nigeria jump three places from 11th to 8th, amassing 640.1 ranking points.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria’s D’Tigress remain the only African team to have ever occupied a top 10 place.

 

 

 

 

The United States retains the top spot with 880.9 points, followed by Australia (719.6) and France (719.2). China (712.7) and Belgium (702.1) round out the top five, with Spain, Canada, and now Nigeria completing the top eight.

 

 

 

The ranking boost comes just a few weeks after D’Tigress etched their name in African basketball history by winning a fifth consecutive AfroBasket crown, a feat no men’s or women’s team on the continent had ever achieved.

 

 

 

In the final, the reigning champions secure a commanding 78–64 victory at the Palais des Sports de Treichville.

 

 

 

The win marked their seventh AfroBasket title overall and extended their incredible unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games, a streak dating back to 2015.

 

 

 

 

Lithuania, returning to the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket for the first time in ten years and reaching the quarter-finals, climbed an impressive 14 places to 31st.

 

 

 

 

One of the most captivating stories came from South Sudan, which, on its AfroBasket Women debut, stormed to a historic third-place finish.

 

 

 

Elsewhere, Lebanon surged 13 spots to 41st, while Indonesia jumped 19 places to 60th after their outing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025.

 

 

 

Iran also enjoyed a 15-place boost to 44th, and Mongolia made a 20-place climb to 70th following their performance in Division B of the same tournament.