Nigeria’s women basketball team, D’Tigress, jumped four places in the latest world ranking released by the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) yesterday.
D’Tigress are now ranked the eighth best team in the world following their outstanding display in the women’s basketball event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
D’Tigress had secured two wins from three games for the first time to become the first African side (either male or female) to compete in the quarter-finals at the Olympics.
They have now made history again as the first African national team in the history of the FIBA World Ranking (men or women) to be ranked in the top 10.
The African champions defeated top ranked teams Australia and Canada in the group stage of the Paris Games before bowing out gallantly to holders United States of America in the last-eight
Meanwhile, leaders U.S. proudly retain top spot after taking the Olympics gold medal, several other nations have secured rises off the back of their great work at the showpiece event.
In a truly absorbing and memorable competition that was played out in front of record-breaking crowds, the U.S. secured a stunning 10th title and their eighth in a row. That is what has helped them remain top of the rankings with 883.3 points.
France leapt four places and into third spot after their captivating run to the final match of the Olympics.
Another accomplishment came from Serbia, who were also quarter-finalists at Paris 2024, thereby improving their standing in the rankings with an upwards move from 10th to 9th place.
There were also movers from those teams who were successful at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournaments in Mexico and Rwanda.
As well as grabbing a ticket for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifiers after winning the competition in Mexico City, Czechia are now 21st after climbing two places.
