D’Tigress begins their quest to win the World Cup with a battle against South Korea on Friday
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on Wednesday arrived in Berlin, Germany, ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Rena Wakama’s team, who are the reigning African champions, were received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Ita Enang, and officials of the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Berlin.
D’Tigress travelled to the German capital after rounding off their final phase of preparations in Zaragoza, Spain, where they held their training camp and played tune-up games against Mali and Puerto Rico.
The Zaragoza camp was the final stage of an extensive build-up that saw Wakama’s side also train and play warm-up games in the United States, China and Tenerife, Spain.
The Nigerians will now make their final preparations in Berlin ahead of the tournament, which gets underway on Friday and runs until September 13.
D’Tigress have been drawn in Group B alongside South Korea, Hungary and France, with Nigeria opening their campaign against South Korea on Friday.
They will face Hungary on Saturday before concluding their group-stage campaign against France on Monday.
The team head into the tournament as five-time defending African champions, having defeated Mali 78-64 in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Wakama’s side also made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first African basketball team to reach the quarter-finals of the Games.
D’Tigress’ best World Cup finish came in 2018, when they reached the quarter-finals and finished eighth.
With the tournament now just days away, the Nigerian side will hope their extensive preparations translate to success.
Meanwhile, head coach Rena Wakama has selected a squad that blends experience and youth as Nigeria prepares for its third World Cup appearance, following previous outings in 2006 and 2018.
Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara will join Aisha Mohammed in the history books as the only Nigerian players to have featured at two FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups.
Promise Amukamara, Jordan Obi, Elizabeth Balogun, Murjanatu Musa, Pallas Kunaiyi, Rita Igbokwe, Victoria Macaulay, Ezinne Kalu, Shay Ijiwoye, Nicole Enabosi, Amy Okonkwo and Grace Efosa.
