20 years on - What has happened in the Women's AfroBasket?

ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - From the emergence of new stars to the extraordinary comeback of the continent's most dominant team, the last 20 years have been nothing short of breathtaking.

The Women's AfroBasket is a biennial competition that has produced four different African champions in the last ten editions of the tournament.

As the Women's AfroBasket 2025 returns this year, we take a look back at who has done what in the tournament's recent history.

This year's tournament will be held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from 25 July to 3 August.

No host nation has won it since Nigeria

Over two decades, seven countries have hosted the Women's AfroBasket, but only Nigeria's D'Tigresses have lifted the trophy in front of their home fans.

It happened in 2005 when Nigeria pulled off a shock upset by beating favourites Senegal 64-57 in the final. The two teams had met in the group stage, where Senegal edged out Nigeria 65-55.

Nigeria finished the tournament on a 5-1 run, with wins over Cape Verde, Togo, Mali, DR Congo and Senegal.

The next six hosts of the Women's AfroBasket failed to lift the trophy:

- Senegal finished second in 2007 after losing 65-58 to Mali.

- Madagascar finished 8th in 2009.

- 2011 hosts Mali finished third after a shock 56-51 semi-final loss to eventual champions Angola.

- Angola won their second successive title in 2013 after beating hosts Mozambique 64-61 in the final.

- Cameroon did everything right at the 2015 edition of the tournament before losing out to Senegal in the final.

- A one-point semi-final defeat (48-47) to eventual champions Nigeria saw hosts Mali finish third for the second time in Bamako in 2017.

- Hosts Senegal reached the final of the 2019 edition unbeaten in four games, but beating Nigeria in the final proved mission impossible.

- Cameroon beat Senegal in the 2021 Women's AfroBasket third-place play-off.

- Rwanda finished fourth as hosts of the 2023 Women's AfroBasket.

The host countries that did not reach the finals

Hosting a tournament isn't always synonymous with success, as Mali know all too well. After finishing third in the 2011 edition of the tournament, Mali didn't fare any better six years later, finishing third.

But Mali aren't the only hosts of the Women's AfroBasket to miss out on the title game in the last two decades.

Madagascar couldn't do any better than ninth, while Rwanda lost to Nigeria in the semi-finals before settling for fourth place in 2023.

Hosts who had to settle for second or third-place

Disappointment aside, a number of host countries were compensated with a silver or bronze medal. Certainly not what they were aiming for, but this has happened several times in the women's AfroBasket:

- Senegal took home silver in 2007.

- Mali took bronze in 2011 and 2017.

- Mozambique took silver in 2013.

- Cameroon's best finish in the history of the competition was second in 2015.

- Senegal came second in 2019.

- Cameroon retained the bronze medal in 2021.

From winning the title to missing the podium

Over the past two decades, only two teams have tasted the title and missed out on the podium at the next edition of the tournament.

After defending their home court, winning the title in 2005, Nigeria finished fifth two years later.

Angola won back-to-back Women's AfroBasket titles in 2011 and 2013, but could only finish fourth in 2015.

Most African titles in 20 years

Four countries have lifted the women's AfroBack trophy in the last two decades, three of them on two or more occasions.

- With four consecutive titles (2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023), Nigeria are the most successful team in the last ten editions of the tournament.

- Angola (2011 and 2013) and Senegal (2009 and 2015) have won two titles each, while Mali conquered the continent in 2007.

How have 2025 Women's AfroBasket hosts Côte d'Ivoire fared in 20 years?

A close look at the history of Côte d'Ivoire shows that the 2025 hosts of the Women's AfroBasket have had their ups and downs, with modest results.

Before hosting the Women's AfroBasket for the first time later this year, Côte d'Ivoire appeared in the tournament seven times (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023), with their best result coming in 2009 in Antananarivo, where they finished fourth.

One appearance and that's it

Some teams have come and gone. They tasted the competitiveness of Women's AfroBasket once and never came back.

These teams are: Niger (2005), Togo (2005), Mauritius (2009), Ghana (2011), Zimbabwe (2013) and Central African Republic (2017).

On the other hand, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Mozambique and Angola haven't missed out on any of the last ten editions of the tournament.

Meet the stars of the Women's AfroBasket over the last 20 years

They have made a name for themselves by taking their countries to new heights and have been named the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) of the last ten editions of the Women's AfroBasket.

- Mfon Udoka (Nigeria), 2005 - Hamchetou Maiga (Mali), 2007 - Aya Traore (Senegal), 2009 - Nacissela Mauricio (Angola), 2011 - Nacissela Mauricio (Angola), 2013 - Aya Traore (Senegal), 2015 - Astou Traore (Senegal), 2017 - Ezinne Kalou (Nigeria), 2019 - Adaora Elonu (Nigeria), 2021 - Amy Okonkwo (Nigeria), 2023

Wildcards history

Sometimes a wildcard is the start of something great, and Egypt are a clear example of this. Since receiving an invitation to the Women's AfroBasket for the first time in 2013 - after a 13-year absence - Egypt have become regular participants and have not missed an edition since.

Here's a list of recent wildcards:

- 2025: Egypt, Mozambique, South Sudan and Guinea

- 2023: Angola, Uganda and Guinea

- 2021: Guinea

- 2019: Côte d'Ivoire

- 2017: Central African Republic

- 2015: Egypt

- 2013: Egypt

Host countries and top-3 finishers of the last ten Women's AfroBasket tournaments

Number of participating teams

It all started in 2007 when the tournament increased the number of teams from 10 to 12.

FIBA