Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will begin their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign today, Friday, September 4, when they face South Korea in Berlin, Germany.
The reigning African champions are returning to the global stage determined to build on their impressive recent performances and improve on their historic run at the 2018 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals and finished eighth.
The encounter against South Korea will be played at the Berlin Arena, with D’Tigress looking to make a winning start in a highly competitive Group B.
Nigeria has been drawn alongside South Korea, Hungary and France, with the team scheduled to face Hungary on September 5 before concluding the group stage against France on September 7.
D’Tigress secured their place at the tournament after winning a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025. The achievement further cemented Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s basketball.
Head coach Rena Wakama has named a 12-player squad combining experienced campaigners and emerging talents for Nigeria’s third appearance at the Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Among the players expected to play key roles are veteran guard Ezinne Kalu, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa and Amy Okonkwo.
Kalu, in particular, remains one of the team’s most influential players, while Macaulay and Musa are expected to provide strength and presence in the paint.
The encounter also presents D’Tigress with an opportunity to respond to their recent defeat to South Korea during the World Cup qualifying tournament. Nigeria lost 77–60 to the Asian side during the qualifiers.
Despite that setback, Nigeria heads into the tournament with considerable confidence, having established itself as Africa’s leading women’s basketball team.
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup runs from September 4 to 13 in Berlin and features 16 teams.
For D’Tigress, the immediate objective is clear: start strongly against South Korea, secure valuable points and lay the foundation for another historic World Cup campaign.
