FirstBank Basketball Club of Nigeria, popularly known as the “Elephant Girls”, have been crowned champions of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers, sealing qualification for the Final Round of the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) scheduled to hold in Cairo, Egypt, from 5–14 December 2025.
The Nigerian champions dominated the qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, securing three straight victories against top teams from across the Zone.
Their unbeaten run included a 66–55 upset against home favourites CSA of Côte d’Ivoire and a dramatic 63–59 comeback win over FBA of Côte d’Ivoire after trailing by 20 points in the second quarter.
Their return to continental basketball—after a six-year absence—was described as a defining moment for the iconic team, who emerged as the only English-speaking side to advance from Zone 3.
This was contained in a statement signed by Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited.
The statement reads partly: “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.
“At FirstBank, we are committed to continuing our support for sports in Nigeria and Africa, and this victory is a significant step forward in our mission to promote excellence in sports on the continental and global stage.
“The Elephant Girls’ qualification comes on the back of their impressive Silver Medal finish at the Zenith Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Women’s Premier League.
“Carrying the pride of Nigeria and the FirstBank brand, the team is poised to make history in the Final Round of the Women’s Basketball League Africa in Cairo.”
Following their silver-medal performance at the Zenith NBBF Women’s Premier League, the Elephant Girls were selected as Nigeria’s sole representatives at the qualifiers, where they delivered one of the most impressive performances by any Nigerian women’s basketball team in recent years.
Their clean sweep in Abidjan showcased what observers described as a powerful blend of resilience, tactical discipline and mental sharpness—attributes that have defined FirstBank’s sustained presence in African women’s basketball.
With qualification secured, the team will now compete against Africa’s elite clubs in Cairo as they attempt to reclaim their place among the continent’s top sides.
FirstBank, established in 1894, highlighted the achievement as further proof of its longstanding commitment to women’s sports, community development and excellence. The Bank, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with operations spread across Africa, Europe and Asia, reiterated its dedication to empowering women through sport, leadership and financial inclusion.
The institution also restated its track record in governance, digital innovation, financial services, and gender-focused initiatives such as the FirstBank Women Network and its membership in the UN Women’s Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs).
The bank has earned numerous international recognitions between 2024 and 2025, including Best SME Bank in Africa, Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa, and Best Bank for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria.