Men to the Army: Nigerians call for focus on women's sports after D'Tigress, Super Falcons' success

Nigerians are calling for a greater spotlight on women’s sports following the outstanding achievements of the Super Falcons and D’Tigress on the continental stage.

The latest wave of excitement comes after Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress, cruised past neighbours Cameroon with an emphatic 83-47 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 

This win secured the four-time defending champions a spot in the semifinals, extending their unbeaten streak in the competition to an astonishing 27 games.

Just as celebrations continue for the Super Falcons, who recently clinched their record-extending 10th WAFCON title in Morocco, Nigerians are increasingly urging a shift in the nation’s sports focus.

The D’Tigress’ admin posted a spirited message on X shortly after the win, writing:

“Admin on duty reporting. All Cameroonian units have been neutralised. I say again. All opponents down. Court is under full Nigerian control. Our squad executed with surgical precision. Targets had no answers for D’Tigresses. Request permission to initiate Victory Formation. Over.”

This unusual military-themed post sparked a flood of reactions. One fan humorously said, "Military don overthrow D'Tigress Admin," while another expressed confidence in the team’s path to glory: "We're going for the trophy."

Amid the fervour, a notable call echoed across social media: “Make this country just focus on female sports only. Make the men go join the army.” 

Another supporter added, “Makes sense. Make Osihmen and Lookman be commanding officers,” playfully suggesting that the men’s teams step aside for female athletes to lead the charge.

Others took a moment to simply praise the champions: “Kudos to our D’Tigress. Good job.”

With both the Super Falcons and D’Tigress delivering unprecedented success, Nigerians are clearly energised and hopeful that the spotlight on women’s sports will grow even brighter, inspiring future generations of female athletes across the country.