Sports
D’Tigress Shift Focus to Remaining Group Matches at FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have turned their attention to their remaining group matches at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament currently taking place in Villeurbanne.
The Nigerian side is scheduled to face the Philippines women’s national basketball team on Saturday afternoon as they look to bounce back from their recent defeat in the competition.
BONA NAIJA gathered that the team has a demanding schedule ahead, as they will return to the court less than 24 hours later to face host nation France women’s national basketball team on Sunday at 7 p.m., before concluding their group stage campaign against the Germany women’s national basketball team on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
The side led by head coach Rena Wakama will be aiming for a quick return to winning form after suffering a 77–60 loss to the North Korea women’s national basketball team on Thursday.
North Korea dominated the opening quarter 20–16, while the second quarter ended in a 16–16 draw, leaving the Asian side with a 36–32 lead at halftime before extending their advantage to seal the victory.
The match marked Wakama’s 19th game in charge of the Nigerian team, with the coach recording 14 wins and five losses so far in her tenure.
Earlier in the tournament, North Korea had fallen 76–49 to Germany in their opening game and needed the win against Nigeria to boost their chances in the competition. D’Tigress, however, began their campaign strongly with a commanding 70–37 victory over Colombia women’s national basketball team.
D’Tigress remain one of Africa’s most successful women’s basketball teams, having won seven FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles, including a remarkable run of five consecutive championships.
The Nigerian side is preparing for its third appearance at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, having previously reached the quarter-finals in 2018.
Although Nigeria has already secured qualification for the upcoming global tournament scheduled to take place in Germany from September 4 to 13, following their triumph at the 2025 AfroBasket, the ongoing qualifiers provide an important opportunity for the team to test themselves against top international opponents and improve their global ranking.
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