By Ayomide Otitoju
FirstBank Basketball Club, popularly known as the “Elephant Girls,” have qualified for the final round of the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) after emerging champions of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Nigerian side delivered a flawless performance, winning all three games at the tournament, where they were the country’s sole representatives. They defeated teams from Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin Republic, Ghana, and Togo to secure the top spot in the zone.
Their unbeaten run featured a 66–55 victory over home favourites CSA of Côte d’Ivoire and a dramatic 63–59 comeback win against FBA of Côte d’Ivoire, overturning a 20-point deficit in the second quarter.
The triumph marks the Elephant Girls’ return to continental basketball after a six-year absence, underscoring their resilience, discipline, and mental fortitude. As the only English-speaking team to advance from the zone, they also reinforce FirstBank’s long-standing commitment to the development of women’s sports in Nigeria and across Africa.
Reacting to the qualification, FirstBank’s Group Head, Human Capital Management and Development and Chairman of the Sports Council, Olumuyiwa Olulaja, praised the team’s performance.
“We are incredibly proud of the Elephant Girls for their outstanding performance. They have once again shown the world the strength, resilience, and excellence that define FirstBank,” he said.
He added that the bank remains committed to supporting sports development across the continent, describing the victory as a major step towards promoting excellence on the African and global stage.
The Elephant Girls qualified for the Zone 3 tournament after winning silver at the Zenith Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Women’s Premier League.
With their place now secured in the final round scheduled for 5–14 December 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, the Elephant Girls will aim to make history as they return to continental action, flying the flag for Nigeria and the FirstBank brand.
