D’Tigress suffered their first setback since the 2024 Olympics, falling 77-60 to a clinical South Korean side at the on-going World Cup qualifiers.
The defeat at the Astroballe in France comes just 24 hours after the African champions opened their 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign with a dominant 33-point victory over Colombia.
While Rena Wakama’s squad has already secured an automatic World Cup berth following their 2025 Afrobasket triumph, this tournament serves as a critical opportunity to climb the global rankings. However, that momentum hit a wall against the Koreans.
Yesterday, South Korea set the pace early, ending the first quarter with a narrow 20-16 lead. Nigeria fought back in the second, matching the Koreans’ intensity, but still went into the locker room trailing 36-32. Despite staying within striking distance at 58-51 by the end of the third, D’Tigress ran out of steam in the final period. The Koreans capitalized, blowing the lead open to seal a 17-point win.
Nigeria remains part of an elite group of five nations—alongside Germany and continental champions Belgium, the USA, and Australia—who have already booked their spots for the 2026 showpiece. D’Tigress will look to bounce back when they face the Philippines this Saturday.
