Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have arrived in Lyon, France, ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament, where they will battle some of the world’s top teams for supremacy.
The five-time consecutive African champions touched down in France and are already settling down as preparations begin in earnest for the tournament scheduled to hold from March 11 to March 17, 2026.
Training sessions are expected to commence immediately as the team fine-tunes strategies ahead of their opening game. D’Tigress, widely regarded as the most dominant women’s basketball team in Africa, head into the competition with strong confidence after winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, a victory that further cemented their status as continental powerhouse.
The Nigerian side has won the AfroBasket title five consecutive times (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025) and remains the only African women’s team to reach the quarterfinals of both the Olympic Games and the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
At the qualifying tournament in Lyon-Villeurbanne, Nigeria will face a competitive lineup that includes France, Germany, South Korea, Colombia, and the Philippines in a round-robin format. The tournament forms part of the global qualification pathway for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, with teams competing for available slots in the final tournament scheduled to hold in Berlin, Germany.
Nigeria will open their campaign on March 11 against Colombia, before taking on South Korea, the Philippines, France, and Germany in subsequent fixtures during the week-long competition.
Head coach Rena Wakama has named a 12-player squad that blends experienced campaigners with emerging talents as the team aims to maintain its reputation on the global stage.
Players Unveiled for the Qualifiers are; Promise Amukamara, Elizabeth Balogun, Blessing Ejiofor, Nicole Enabosi, Rita Igbokwe, Ezinne Kalu, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa, Sarah Ogoke, Amy Okonkwo and Ifunaya Okoro.
With momentum from their continental success and a balanced roster of experience and youth, D’Tigress will be aiming to deliver strong performances in France as they continue preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
