Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, Nigeria women’s national basketball team, delivered a spirited performance but suffered a narrow 93–86 defeat to France women’s national basketball team in their latest game at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualification Tournament in Lyon, France, on Sunday.
Despite a slow start in the opening half, the African champions mounted an impressive second-half comeback that kept the host nation and its home supporters on edge inside the Astroballe Arena.
D’Tigress showed remarkable resilience after the break, winning the third quarter 21–15 to reduce the deficit. The fourth quarter proved to be a closely contested battle, ending 21–20, but the Nigerian side ultimately fell just short of completing a dramatic turnaround as the French crowd held its breath in the closing minutes.
Team captain Amy Okonkwo, returning to action after several months on the sidelines due to injury, led Nigeria’s scoring with 16 points and two rebounds in an encouraging performance.
She received strong support from teammates Elizabeth Balogun and Mujarnatu Musa, who both recorded 15 points, while veteran guard Ezinne Kalu added 14 points, ensuring the contest remained fiercely competitive throughout.
Sunday’s encounter against France was widely regarded as Nigeria’s most complete performance of the tournament so far, a fact acknowledged by head coach Rena Wakama, who praised her players for their determination despite the narrow loss.
“I am super proud of my team. If you want to beat the top teams, you have to be able to capitalise on games like this,” Wakama said.
“Credit to the French team—they are a great side—but I also have a great team. I can assure you that we will continue to grow and keep learning as we work towards our ultimate goal.
If no one believes in us, I believe in us, and that is the belief we all share in the locker room.”
Captain Okonkwo also spoke about the challenge of facing the host nation in front of a packed arena.
“This is not the first time we are playing France in France. We faced them during the Olympics and also before that,” she said.
“We are used to that environment. As a team we understand what is expected of us, and we know we must stay together when the crowd is doing its thing. We keep fighting and supporting each other—that is what we always do.”
The qualification tournament will conclude on Tuesday, with D’Tigress set to face another European powerhouse, the Germany women’s national basketball team, who will host the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The decisive matchup is scheduled for 5:00 pm Nigerian time, as Nigeria looks to finish the competition on a strong note.
