D’Tigress Narrowly Defeated by France in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers
Nigeria’s D’Tigress showed remarkable resilience but fell short against France in their FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament clash, losing 93–86 on Sunday.
The reigning African champions struggled in the first half but mounted a strong fightback in the second half, making it a competitive contest. At halftime, Nigeria trailed by a significant margin but came back strongly in the third quarter, winning 21–15. The fourth quarter was tight, with France managing to hold on under pressure, finishing 21–20 in their favour.
Amy Okonkwo Leads D’Tigress
Amy Okonkwo, making a return after a long injury layoff, led the charge with 16 points and two rebounds. Her performance was a key factor in Nigeria’s competitive showing. Elizabeth Balogun and Mujarnatu Musa contributed 15 points each, while Ezinne Kalu added 14 points.
Coach Rena Wakama praised the team’s fighting spirit and determination throughout the game, despite the loss.
“I am super proud of my team,” Wakama said. “If you want to beat top teams, you have to capitalise on games like this. We are not giving up, and we will keep improving.”
Fighting Through a Passionate Crowd
Okonkwo also highlighted the team’s mental toughness while playing in front of a passionate French crowd.
“This is not the first time we’re playing France in France,” she remarked. “We’re used to this atmosphere, and as a team, we stay together and keep fighting. The crowd gets loud, but we support each other.”
Looking Ahead to Germany
D’Tigress will now focus on their next match against Germany, host of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The game, scheduled for 5 p.m. Nigerian time on Tuesday, marks a critical opportunity for the team to close out the tournament on a high note.
Germany will be a tough opponent, but D’Tigress have shown they can rise to the challenge, especially after a commendable second-half fightback against France.
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