Duro Ikhazuagbe
DTigress, the senior women’s basketball team of Nigeria, had an impressive performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which resulted in their rise in the latest FIBA Rankings. However, the male team, DTigers, experienced a setback as they dropped four spots in the rankings.
DTigers failed to qualify for the Olympics, and their recent performances have been disappointing. In contrast, the women’s team climbed from 12th to 8th position in the rankings. DTigers now stand at the 42nd position globally, accumulating 299.7 points. In the African rankings, they hold the 6th position.
Among the top 50 teams, South Sudan made a significant leap, going from 34th to 23rd, making them the highest-ranked African team and surpassing Côte d’Ivoire. This achievement followed their debut game win at the Olympics, which was their first-ever participation in the competition.
The current top 10 teams in Africa, according to the latest rankings, are as follows: 1. South Sudan, 2. Côte d’Ivoire, 3. Angola, 4. Tunisia, 5. Egypt, 6. Nigeria, 7. Cape Verde, 8. Senegal, 9. Cameroon, 10. Guinea.
Notably, the global rankings witnessed changes after an exciting tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The USA secured the gold medal at the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024, maintaining their top position in the ranking. Serbia moved up two spots to secure the second position with a total of 758.9 points, surpassing Germany. France now holds the fourth position.
France’s appearance in the Gold Medal Game of the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 resulted in a significant climb of five spots compared to March 2024, placing them just behind Germany at third position and making them the highest climbing nation in the top 20.
Canada reached the fifth position after an impressive performance in the Olympic Games, marking their first participation in 24 years. Their third-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup also contributed to their rise in the rankings.
With their victories at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, Greece and Puerto Rico each climbed one spot in the rankings. Greece now stands at 13th position, while Puerto Rico holds the 15th position.