Nigeria D’Tigress don arrive for 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup for Berlin, and dem wan build on di big things wey start for Spain 2018 and reach highest point for Paris 2024 Olympics, where dem become di first African team — whether men or women — to reach Olympic basketball quarter-finals.
Coach Rena Wakama don name 12-player squad wey Amy Okonkwo go lead. Ezinne Kalu, 34, and Promise Amukamara na di only two players wey still dey from di 2018 World Cup group wey beat Greece 57-56 to become di first African side to enta women last eight. Di two go become di only Nigerians wey go play for two Women’s World Cups.
Kalu, wey top-score for Nigeria for Paris and drop 21 points for di historic win against Canada, dey anchor di team together with back-to-back Afrobasket MVP Okonkwo. Wakama also dey reunite with Sika Kone and Maimouna Haidara inside Mali set-up, with Nagnouma Coulibaly — dem don call am di greatest rebounder for Afrobasket history — coming back for Mali campaign.
For Group B, Nigeria go face Hungary, South Korea and France. Mali go meet Japan, Germany and Spain for Group A. Di top four for each pool go advance to quarter-finals for Berlin, with semi-finals set for 12 September and di final for 13 September.
D’Tigress open dia 2018 run with 75-62 win against Australia — wey later win bronze medal — before dem fall to France and then edge Canada inside another landmark result.
