D’TIGRESS FACE TOUGH WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

By: Gyang Dakwo

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, now know the teams they must overcome to reach the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany.

The draw for the qualifying tournament was held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and Nigeria were placed in a strong six team pool with Colombia, the Philippines, Germany, South Korea, and France. The matches will be played in Villeurbanne, Lyon in France.

Then will emerge the teams secure the few available places at the World Cup. This means every game will be important as the teams battle directly for qualification.

For D’Tigress, the trip to France is another major step on the international stage. The Nigerian side gained global attention after reaching the quarter finals of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, a historic run that raised their profile in world basketball.

Nigeria currently sit among the top ten teams in the world, and they arrive at the tournament as Africa’s dominant side. They have won the AfroBasket title five times in a row, and they remain the team many African fans expect to carry the continent’s hopes.

However, the challenge in Lyon will be different because the team will face opponents from South America, Asia, and Europe. Each side brings a different style of play, and this will test the strength and tactics of the Nigerian squad led by coach Rena Wakama.

The qualifying games will begin on March 11 and will run until March 17, 2026, with the teams hoping to secure a place at the World Cup in Berlin.