D`Tigress
Iyunade Grace
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, kicked off their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament campaign with a resounding 70-37 victory over Colombia in Lyon, France. The reigning African champions dominated the game, showcasing their defensive strength and squad depth.
D’Tigress took an early lead, finishing the first quarter 18-12, and maintained their composure to go into halftime with a narrow 34-29 advantage. The turning point came immediately after the break, as Nigeria went on a decisive 16-0 scoring run, stretching their lead to 46-29.
Victoria Macaulay led the scoring with 13 points and six rebounds in just over 14 minutes off the bench, while Nicole Enabosi recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Ifunanya Okoro also impressed with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, finishing with a +29 efficiency rating.
Colombia struggled to match Nigeria’s intensity, managing just eight points across the entire second half. The South American side’s top scorer was Mabel Martinez, who managed six points.
D’Tigress’ next challenge is South Korea, whom they’ll face on Thursday. They’ll then take on the Philippines, hosts France, and Germany in the remaining group fixtures.
The victory marks a strong start for D’Tigress, who have already secured their place at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany. The tournament serves as crucial preparation for the global competition.
