Mali and Nigeria, di two African representatives for di 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup for Berlin, go enta di tournament on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Mali go open against Japan for Group A, wey also include di host Germany and Spain. Mali dey enta di competition mind afta dem perform well for di Wuhan qualifying tournament, wia dem beat South Sudan 97-74. Nagnouma Coulibaly, wey people dey call di greatest rebounder for Afrobasket history, don return to di squad alongside Sika Kone and Maimouna Haidara.
Nigeria, wey don win African title four times in a row and dem rank eighth for di world, go start on Saturday against Hungary for Group B. South Korea and France dey inside di pool too. Di D’Tigress fit count on back-to-back Afrobasket MVP Amy Okonkwo and point guard Promise Amukamara.
Di United States, wey dey chase fifth title in a row and dem never lose any World Cup match since di 2006 semi-finals, na dem dey headline Group D alongside Czechia, Italy and China. Di Americans go play without Kelsey Plum and reigning Olympic MVP A’ja Wilson.
Sixteen teams go compete for four groups from 4 to 13 September, and di top four for each pool go advance directly to di quarter-finals. Di tournament get di first qualifying spot for di Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Group C get Belgium, Australia, Puerto Rico and Türkiye inside.
