D’TIGRESS BEGIN TRAINING IN FRANCE AHEAD OF 2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have commenced training in France ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2026, which begins on Wednesday in Lyon.
The seven-time African champions arrived in Villeurbanne on Monday for the tournament scheduled to run from March 11 to 17, confirming their arrival through a video shared on their official social media platforms.
Clips posted on Instagram showed the squad participating in their first training session and gym workout, signalling the start of preparations for their opening match against Colombia women’s national basketball team on Wednesday.
All 12 players selected for the competition travelled with head coach Rena Wakama and her assistants. Wakama recently concluded coaching duties with Hive Basketball Club in the 3×3 Unrivalled League before rejoining the national team.
Although Nigeria have already secured qualification for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin after winning the Women’s AfroBasket 2025, the qualifiers will serve as additional preparation for the global tournament scheduled from September 4 to 13.
D’Tigress will open their campaign against Colombia before facing:
South Korea women’s national basketball team – March 12
Philippines women’s national basketball team – March 14
France women’s national basketball team – March 15
Germany women’s national basketball team – March 17
The squad includes several experienced players expected to play key roles during the competition, including guards Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara, as well as team captain Amy Okonkwo.
Other players in the team are Sarah Ogoke, Elizabeth Balogun, Nicole Enabosi, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa, Pallas Kunayi-Akpanah, Rita Igbokwe, Ifunaya Okoro and Blessing Ejiofor.
Videos circulating from the team’s camp showed the players in high spirits, participating in shooting drills and conditioning sessions as preparations intensify.
Nigeria will be aiming to sustain the momentum that has lifted the team in global rankings. In its latest power rankings for the 2026 World Cup, FIBA placed the African champions eighth in the world, reflecting their recent achievements and squad depth.
D’Tigress previously made history at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 in Tenerife, becoming the first African team to progress beyond the group stage after defeating Turkey women’s national basketball team and Argentina women’s national basketball team.
The team had earlier appeared at the global tournament in 2006 in Brazil before their historic run in 2018.
Following the qualifiers in France, the Nigerian side will travel to the United States in April for a historic preseason exhibition against the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA.
The game will mark the first time an African national basketball team will face a WNBA franchise, forming part of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup in Berlin.
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