Lagos, 5 December 2025 – FirstBank Basketball Club of Nigeria, popularly known as the Elephant Girls, have secured their spot in the final round of the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA), scheduled to hold in Cairo, Egypt from 5–14 December 2025.
The Elephant Girls put on a commanding performance at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, winning all three games. Representing Nigeria as the country’s sole team in the tournament, they overcame fierce competition from Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin Republic, Ghana, and Togo. Their undefeated run included a 66–55 upset against home favourites CSA of Côte d’Ivoire and a thrilling 63–59 comeback win against FBA of Côte d’Ivoire after trailing by 20 points in the second quarter.
Their resilience, discipline, skill, and mental strength earned them a triumphant return to continental basketball after a six-year absence. Emerging as champions of Zone 3 and the only English-speaking team to advance, the Elephant Girls reaffirmed FirstBank’s long-standing commitment to promoting women’s sports in Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking on the qualification, FirstBank’s Group Head, Human Capital Management and Development and Chairman of the Sports Council, Olumuyiwa Olulaja, said:
“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,” he added.
The Elephant Girls advanced to represent Nigeria at the WBLA Qualifiers after winning Silver at the Zenith NBBF Women’s Premier League.
With their place secured in Cairo, they are poised to showcase their talent on the continental stage once again, carrying the pride of Nigeria and the FirstBank brand as they aim to make history in the Final Round of the Women’s Basketball League Africa.
About FirstBank
First Bank of Nigeria Limited “FirstBank,” established in 1894, is the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion services provider in Africa. The Bank continues to receive global recognition and remains committed to fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and empowerment.
Among the many milestones and awards:
See how FirstBank is promoting entrepreneurs across Africa: FirstBank Promotes African Entrepreneurs
FirstBank’s landmark ₦1-trillion digital loan disbursement, highlighting a new era of inclusive lending in Nigeria: ₦1 Trillion Digital Loan Disbursement Milestone
Recent corporate developments: Femi Otedola Returns as Majority Shareholder of FirstBank
Industry recognition including 2024’s “Best Corporate Bank in Nigeria”: FirstBank Receives Best Corporate Bank Award
FirstBank’s footprint spans three continents—Africa, Europe, and Asia—with operations in the UK, France, DRC, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and a representative office in Beijing, China. Through this network, the Bank supports cross-border trade and delivers full-service banking across markets.
The Bank has over 25 million active digital banking customers and is a pioneer in cashless payments with over 13 million cards issued. With 43 million customer accounts, 820+ business offices, and an extensive agent network of over 280,000 agents across 772 LGAs, FirstBank remains a leader in digital and inclusive banking.
FirstBank continues to champion gender diversity through initiatives such as the FirstBank Women Network and its membership of UN Women, demonstrating its commitment to equal opportunity and empowerment.
The Bank has consistently earned accolades including Best SME Bank in Africa (2025), Best Private Bank in Nigeria (2025), and Best Retail Bank in Nigeria (2025) — reinforcing its leadership and strategic ambition: “To deliver accelerated growth in profitability through customer-led innovation and disciplined execution.”
