By Pius Ayinor
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have continued to strengthen their position as Africa’s most dominant side over the past decade, winning multiple continental titles and improving their standing on the global stage.
The team have won the Women’s Afrobasket championship five consecutive times since 2017 and have remained unbeaten against African opponents since 2015.
Their recent preparations in Lyon, France, form part of the build-up to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup scheduled for September in Berlin, Germany.
D’Tigress first drew global attention during their Olympic debut in 2004 when they became the first African women’s basketball team to win a match at the Games.
Their performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics further reinforced their growing reputation internationally, while head coach Rena Wakama received recognition as the tournament’s best coach.
In a recent development, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) announced a strategic partnership with aviation company XE Jet, naming the airline the Official Aviation Partner of the women’s national team.
According to the federation, the agreement will provide aviation and travel logistics support for the team during international competitions, with the aim of improving travel arrangements and operational planning for the players and officials.
D’Tigress are currently competing in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, which began on March 11 and will end on March 17 in Lyon.
NBBF President Ahmadu Musa Kida described the partnership as an important step in strengthening support structures for the women’s team.
“D’Tigress continue to inspire the nation through their achievements on the global stage.
This partnership reflects growing corporate support for women’s basketball in Nigeria and reinforces our commitment to providing the team with the support they deserve,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of XE Jet, Emmanuel Iza, also noted that the company sees the partnership as an opportunity to support Nigerian athletes representing the country internationally.
The federation said the deal followed months of negotiations led by the NBBF Sponsorship and Marketing Committee Chairman, Ugo Udezue.
Udezue said the objective was to create stronger commercial backing for the national teams and improve the sports ecosystem.
The partnership places D’Tigress among several major sports teams and organisations globally that maintain aviation partnerships to support international travel.
XE Jet began scheduled premium services between Abuja and Lagos in 2024 using a 24-seater CRJ200 aircraft configured for business-class travel. The airline later expanded its services with the introduction of an E190 aircraft offering 104 economy seats.
The airline is also expected to host a Women in Sports Leadership reception in Lyon during the World Cup qualifiers, bringing together stakeholders from sports administration, government, and business.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation said it will continue to seek partnerships aimed at strengthening basketball development and supporting Nigerian athletes competing internationally.
