Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, suffered their second defeat in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament after a narrow 93-86 loss to host nation France on Sunday at the Astroballe arena in Villeurbanne, France.
Despite a spirited second-half comeback that saw them win the third quarter, Coach Rena Wakama’s side could not overcome France’s strong start and fell to 2-2 in Group D.
Intense battle between Nigeria vs France – FIBA
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
- Q1: France 29 – Nigeria 21
- Q2: France 28 – Nigeria 24 (Halftime: 57-45)
- Q3: France 15 – Nigeria 21
- Q4: France 21 – Nigeria 20
France dominated early, building a double-digit lead by halftime. Nigeria mounted a strong fightback in the third quarter (winning it by six points) and kept the fourth quarter close, but the hosts held firm in the closing stages to secure the victory.
Key Performers for Nigeria
- Amy Okonkwo — 16 points (team-high)
- Elizabeth Balogun — 15 points
- Murjanatu Musa — 15 points
- Ezinne Kalu — 14 points
Nigeria showed resilience with multiple scoring runs and strong interior play, but France’s efficiency and home support proved decisive.
Former WNBA player Amy Okonkwo headlines Nigeria squad for FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers
Post-Match Reactions
Coach Rena Wakama:
“We fought hard, especially in the second half, and showed good character by winning the third quarter. France got off to a great start and we had to play catch-up. There are still lessons to learn, but I’m proud of the effort. We now focus on our final group game against Germany.”
Amy Okonkwo (leading scorer with 16 points):
“It was a tough game against a strong French team. We came back strong in the second half but fell just short. The team showed heart, and we’ll use this experience to improve. Our next match is very important.”
Murjanatu Musa:
“We didn’t start well, but we never gave up. Winning the third quarter gave us belief, but we need to be sharper from the beginning in these big games. We’re still in the fight for qualification.”
Upcoming Fixture
- Tuesday, March 18: Nigeria vs Germany – 5:00 PM
D’Tigress will need a strong result against Germany to keep their qualification hopes alive as the group stage concludes.
