Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, began their campaign at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, overpowering Colombia 70–37 at the Astroballe Arena in Villeurbanne, France.
The convincing result highlighted the authority of the seven-time African champions, who imposed their rhythm early and maintained control throughout the contest. For Nigeria, the game also served as a valuable step in their preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin.
Head coach Rena Wakama’s side wasted little time asserting themselves as Nigeria opened the game with a strong first quarter, building an 18–12 advantage through disciplined defence and confident attacking play. Colombia attempted to stay within striking distance, and the contest briefly tightened during the second quarter. By halftime, however, D’Tigress still held the edge with a 34–29 lead.
After the break, the Nigerian team elevated its performance further. A dominant third quarter allowed them to stretch the gap significantly, pushing the score to 53–34 and effectively removing any realistic chance of a Colombian comeback. With the result virtually settled, the final quarter became a formality as D’Tigress calmly closed out the game to secure a 33-point victory.
Several Nigerian players played decisive roles in the dominant display. Victoria Macaulay led the team offensively with 13 points and finished with the highest efficiency rating of the game at 19. Nicole Enabosi delivered a well-rounded performance, scoring 10 points while also collecting 11 rebounds and providing five assists.
Defensive contributions were equally significant as Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah anchored the interior defence with two blocks and key rebounds, while guard Ifunanya Okoro added pressure on the perimeter, recording two steals and finishing a crucial layup during the fourth quarter.
Colombia struggled to match Nigeria’s physicality and pace with Yuliany Paz emerging as their most effective player, finishing with the team’s only double-digit efficiency rating of seven. She also led Colombia with five rebounds and three blocks. Mabel Martinez added six points, but Colombia failed to build sustained momentum after the competitive second quarter and ultimately fell to a heavy defeat.
Beyond the scoreboard, the result further strengthened Wakama’s growing record since taking over as D’Tigress head coach in July 2023. The victory was her 14th in competitive matches, giving her a 77 per cent win rate from 18 games in charge. The team’s only defeats during that span have come against Belgium, France, and twice against the United States.
Nigeria’s attention now turns to their next game in the qualifying tournament against Korea on Thursday.
Although D’Tigress already secured their place at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after winning the Women’s AfroBasket 2025 title, the ongoing qualifiers provide a crucial opportunity for the coaching staff to test squad depth and refine tactical strategies against diverse international opponents.
The qualifying tournament runs from March 11 to March 17, with the top two teams advancing to join host nation Germany and AfroBasket champions Nigeria at the World Cup in Berlin.
As the team continues its preparations for the global stage, Nigeria will be hoping to build on its landmark achievement at the 2018 World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, where D’Tigress became the first African team to advance beyond the group stage. Their commanding victory over Colombia suggests the squad remains firmly on course to strengthen its standing in international women’s basketball.
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