Modupe Olalere
Nigeria’s women’s sporting teams, the Super Falcons in football and the D’Tigress in basketball, both won monumental continental victories in August 2025, galvanising the nation. These victories are significant in sports history, but they have also moved to the forefront of a bigger discussion on female leadership, power, and visibility in Nigeria. The overarching question reverberating throughout the public space is this: Are these victories the spur for Nigerian women to attain the highest levels of governance and leadership in the country?
On August 3, 2025, Nigeria’s D’Tigress won their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The basketball team beat Mali 78-64, ending a stunning unbeaten run of 29 games in the tournament and marking over a decade of dominance. Coached by Rena Wakama, the first female coach to win an AfroBasket title, the D’Tigress showed exceptional skill, discipline, and tenacity throughout the tournament. Their preparation was marred by administrative challenges that nearly caused them to withdraw, but they prevailed with stars Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara leading the way.
On July 26, the Super Falcons made history by winning their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, the most ever for any team. The final against the host nation, Morocco, was a dramatic rollercoaster ride. After trailing 2-0 in the first half, the Falcons produced a sensational second-half performance to win 3-2 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. The victory reaffirmed their status as Africa’s queens of women’s football, demonstrating grit, teamwork, and hard work.
These related wins are a source of national pride. The government quickly and generously rewarded them: President Bola Tinubu gave each member of the D’Tigress and the Super Falcons $100,000 in cash, three-bedroom apartments in Abuja, and national honours, including the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu also met the two teams individually, exemplifying the growing respect and visibility women’s sports are garnering in Nigeria.
Beyond the goals and trophies, these achievements represent an opportunity for women to lead in male-dominated spaces, particularly in politics and governance. Nigeria has long grappled with gender disparity, especially in politics. The Super Falcons’ and D’Tigress’s success stories give Nigeria powerful images of leadership, resilience, and overcoming struggle.
Peter Akinbo, a distinguished sports analyst, underlined the incredible challenges both teams faced: “They dealt with administrative neglect, poor logistics, and difficult competition, but their unwillingness to lose inspired a nation.” And there is power in that symbolism, as these women have succeeded where many believed they would fail, challenging deeply entrenched instincts about what a Nigerian woman can do.
By demonstrating outstanding talent and leadership, both teams highlight the broader challenges Nigerian women face in society. Their stories should inspire systemic thinking about how women can be empowered beyond sport and how they can exert similar influence in government, business, and civic leadership. The symbolic significance is profound, given how often Nigerian women aspiring to lead have been dismissed in public and political spaces.
The engagement between the squads and federal leaders, particularly the President and First Lady, signifies a slow but ongoing evolution in Nigeria’s national self-image. Women who were once regarded as invisible or excluded from the national conversation have taken centre stage, celebrated for their victories. This recognition pushes back against the notion that leadership is exclusive to men.
While the successes have brought hope and optimism, transitioning from sporting triumphs to political and socio-economic leadership is complicated. Women’s representation in governance remains limited, with decision-making spaces across sectors still largely male-dominated.
Yet what is happening now is unprecedented visibility and momentum. Rena Wakama’s appointment as the first AfroBasket-winning female coach is a ceiling-shattering achievement that challenges the idea that leadership in high-pressure, tactical environments is a male preserve.
For Nigeria to maximise this momentum, sincere policies and reforms will be required to improve women’s participation in politics and the economy. Visible role models like the Falcons and D’Tigress prove women’s capacity to succeed; however, unlike Wakama, most women still face structural barriers such as inadequate access to political financing, entrenched stereotypes, and biased media representation. These must be urgently addressed.
Educational empowerment is equally important. The athletes’ narratives should inspire the next generation of Nigerian girls to step into leadership and excel across all fields. Their successes set a precedent for role models who embody resilience, discipline, and ambition, qualities essential for leadership at any level.
Recent government statements are encouraging, offering a framework for seeing female accomplishments in sport as a catalyst for broader recognition of women’s potential in leadership. But this should be the starting point, not the end, of efforts to promote women’s leadership at all levels.
Historically, Nigeria’s cultural context has confined women’s roles to three main spaces: as mothers within the home, contributors within the community, or supporters rather than leaders. The emergence of more African women on continental sporting platforms, and their open success, fundamentally challenges these cultural confines.
The victories of the Super Falcons and D’Tigress act as cultural levers for change. They showcase the potential for Nigerian women to compete and succeed at the highest levels, given the opportunity and support. Their achievements challenge the historical exclusion of women from powerful positions in state institutions and corporate boardrooms.
Cultural change, however, requires time and sustained engagement. Public acknowledgement, such as that from President Tinubu, helps spark this process. But systemic patriarchy, political gatekeeping, and social scepticism remain formidable barriers. Civil society, the media, and government must work together to recognise these victories as platforms for entrenching gender inclusion in governance and leadership.
These sporting triumphs serve a dual purpose: as sources of national pride and as strategic opportunities to advance women’s leadership in Nigeria. They could become springboards for advocacy, policy, and cultural reform, reinforcing the truth that leadership is defined by ability and character, not gender.
The Super Falcons and D’Tigress players and coaches have modelled leadership traits Nigeria needs: discipline, teamwork, strategic focus, resilience, and a spirit of public service. These traits strengthen the case for more Nigerian women in top leadership positions.
The appointment of Rena Wakama as the first female coach to win the AfroBasket is exceptionally inspiring for Nigerian women and girls. It shows they can overcome barriers and succeed as leaders in male-dominated spaces.
On the football side, the Falcons’ 10th continental championship is proof of their consistency and excellence, a point of cultural pride. Captain Asisat Oshoala and senior players have long advocated for preparing women for leadership roles beyond sport, signalling the team’s awareness of its mission beyond the pitch.
As Nigeria celebrates these momentous victories, the hope is that these women will use their platform to push for better representation, equality, and leadership for women in all sectors.
The August 2025 victories are bigger than trophies. With real support and reform, Nigerian women could rise to the highest seats of power, matching their wins on the field with influence in governance. The moment is here, and Nigeria cannot afford to miss it.