AfroBasket 2025: You Can’t Stop Us, D’Tigress Coach Dares Senegal

Ahead of today’s semi-final clash against arch-rivals Senegal in the ongoing 2025 Women’s AfroBasket in Côte d’Ivoire, D’Tigress head coach Rena Wakama has stated that her players are firmly focused on their mission and that nothing will deter them from achieving their goal.

D’Tigress, who are aiming for their fifth continental title, triumphed over Cameroon with a score of 83-47 in their quarter-final match at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan on Thursday night, securing their place in the semi-finals. Senegal advanced by defeating hosts Côte d’Ivoire 66-60.

Speaking before the semi-final match, Wakama expressed optimism about her team’s prospects. “Credit to Cameroon; they put up a strong fight in the first half, but my message at half-time to the girls was that we must come out and be dominant, and they responded well in the third quarter,” Wakama said after the victory over Cameroon.

“On Saturday, it’s going to be a great game and definitely emotional for some, and that is basketball.
But we know our mission here, and we will not allow anything to change that. It will be an emotional and very physical game,” she added.

Wakama’s team remains unbeaten in their last 27 outings at the Women’s AfroBasket finals, and Senegal will be keen to end that streak.

D’Tigress are on the hunt for a fifth consecutive title in Côte d’Ivoire and are just two games away from achieving their objective.

All four semi-finalists have qualified for the qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Championship in Germany, while the winner of the AfroBasket will secure an automatic place at the World Cup.