Nigeria 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign end for heartbreak afta narrow 71-67 loss to Hungary and mathematical elimination wey France 95-69 victory against South Korea cause. Di French result lock D’Tigress inside bottom spot of Group B through head-to-head tiebreakers, end every hope to advance among di top three.
Head coach Rena Wakama point to early execution and missed chances as di decisive factors against Hungary. D’Tigress shoot 12 of 23 from di free-throw line and struggle to find rhythm before one fourth-quarter surge wey no reach. "E be another rough game. E hard when your shots no dey fall," Wakama tok. "We get great looks for di first half and we reach di free-throw line. But we get small margin for error wit dis group now, and we just no fit get am today."
Wakama highlight tactical gains, noting say turnovers drop from 23 for di opener to 11 against Hungary, but stress say dem need stronger starts. "My challenge for di team na to start di game wit dat energy because e set everything. Our starts no don too great," she add. Captain Amy Okonkwo cite Hungary 51 percent shooting and rebounding edge, while Wakama call her "all-reliable."
Under di 2026 format, fourth-placed group finishers dey eliminated sharp sharp, wit no crossover round available. D’Tigress now face European powerhouse France for dia final group match, dem dey play for pride afta dem miss di quarter-final stage wey dem reach for di 2018 World Cup for Spain.
