AFRICAN champions D’Tigress will begin their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign against South Korea in Berlin on Friday (today), hoping to build on their impressive run at the last edition of the tournament.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Nigeria are making their third appearance at the World Cup after previous outings in 2006 and 2018. They head into the tournament as defending AfroBasket champions, with Amy Okonkwo expected to lead their offensive charge.
The report by PUNCH Sports Extra said Okonkwo, a two-time AfroBasket MVP, averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds during the tournament, while forward Murjanatu Musa also impressed with averages of 7.8 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Musa’s strong interior presence could prove important for Nigeria against a South Korean side that ranks 15th in the world.
South Korea are making their 18th straight World Cup appearance, and despite being two-time finalists, they have not reached the quarter-finals since 2010 and were 10th in Sydney four years ago.
One of their key players is guard Lee-Seul Kang, who averaged 18.6 points and 1.6 steals during this year’s qualifying tournament. Kang also made a tournament-record eight three-pointers against the Philippines.
Jihyun Park provides another offensive threat for the Koreans, having averaged 11.2 points and 4.2 rebounds during qualifying.
South Korea previously defeated Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers, causing one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
However, D’Tigress had won the two previous meetings between the sides, edging South Korea 70-69 during the 2016 qualifying tournament after also beating them 68-64 in an Olympic Games match in 2004. FIBA’s official head-to-head record also confirms Nigeria’s two wins in those meetings.
Meanwhile, head coach Rena Wakama has named her final 12-player roster for the tournament, with the squad combining experience and youth.
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.
The final roster comprises 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.
After facing South Korea, Nigeria will battle Hungary on September 5 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin before concluding the group phase against France on September 7 at the Berlin Arena. The official FIBA schedule lists Nigeria’s games against Hungary on September 5 and France on September 7.
D’Tigress will be hoping to improve on their historic 2018 campaign, when they became the first African team to reach the quarter-finals. The 2026 tournament runs from September 4 to 13 in Berlin, with Nigeria, South Korea, Hungary and France drawn in Group B.