LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will tip off their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign on Thursday, September 4, when they face South Korea in Berlin, Germany.
The African champions arrive at the global tournament with momentum, pedigree and a roster stacked with experience and rising talent.
Head coach Rena Wakama leads a squad blending veteran leadership with youthful energy.
The roster includes established stars such as Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun, Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Murjanatu Musa, Rita Igbokwe, Jordan Obi, Pallas Kunaiyi‑Akpanah and Victoria Macaulay.
They are joined by emerging talents Grace Efosa‑Aguebor, Ifunanya Okoro, Nora Ezike, Nicole Enabosi, Uche Izoje, Maryam Dauda, Gabby White and Idubamo Beggi, giving Nigeria depth across all positions.
The opening clash against South Korea marks the beginning of a demanding group schedule.
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On September 5, D’Tigress will face Hungary, before rounding out the group phase against European powerhouse France on September 7.
All games will be played in Berlin, with tip‑off times set for early afternoon West Africa Time.
This World Cup also carries historic significance for Nigeria. Veterans Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara will join Aisha Mohammed as the only Nigerian players to feature in two FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups, cementing their place among the nation’s elite.
D’Tigress qualified for the tournament after winning a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025, a run that has established them as Africa’s dominant force.
Their challenge now is to translate continental supremacy into global impact.
