D’Tigress Star Amy Okonkwo Awarded Afrobasket MVP And All-Tournament Team Place

Nigeria’s D’Tigress star Amy Okonkwo has been named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket, earning a well-deserved spot on the All-Tournament team.

AMY OKONKWO

In a historic final on the last day of the tournament, Nigeria defeated Mali 78 to 64, securing their fifth straight AfroBasket championship, a record-breaking achievement. This win extends Nigeria’s remarkable unbeaten streak to 29 games, a run that began at the 2015 tournament in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Amy Okonkwo was a powerhouse throughout the competition and especially in the final. She shot an impressive 7-for-11 from the field, including 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, finishing with 19 points. Playing the entire 40 minutes of the title match, her dominant performance earned her the MVP award, placing her among the elite athletes who have won this honor twice, a feat previously achieved only by Mfon Udoka in 2003 and 2005.

Besides the MVP title, Okonkwo led the All-Tournament Team, joining standout players such as Cierra Dillard (Senegal), Delicia Washington (South Sudan), Jane Asinde (Uganda), and Sika Kone (Mali). Over five games, she averaged 14 points, 6 rebounds, and maintained an impressive efficiency rating of 15.6.

Other notable honors included Maria Teresa Gakdeng of South Sudan, who was recognized as the best rebounder, Jessica Thomas from Cameroon as the best three-point shooter, and Delicia Washington also as the tournament’s top scorer.

The top four African teams from this year’s AfroBasket have secured their spots in the qualifying rounds for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, scheduled for March next year.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed great pride in the team, confirming his anticipation of welcoming the D’Tigress back home with their trophy after this historic fifth consecutive win in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

This stellar achievement not only highlights Nigeria’s dominance in women’s basketball across the continent but also shines a spotlight on Amy Okonkwo’s exceptional talent and leadership on the court.