Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, Nigeria women’s national basketball team, popularly known as D’Tigress, opened their campaign at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament with an emphatic 70–37 victory over Colombia on Wednesday.
The match was played at the Astroballe Arena in Villeurbanne, France, where the seven-time African champions delivered a commanding performance from start to finish.
Under the guidance of head coach Rena Wakama, Nigeria quickly imposed their authority, racing to an 18–12 lead in the first quarter.
The team maintained its momentum through disciplined defence and efficient offence, stretching the lead to 34–29 by halftime before pulling away further in the third quarter.
A strong surge in the third period pushed the scoreline to 53–34, effectively sealing the game before the final quarter, as D’Tigress maintained control to secure a comfortable 33-point victory.
Nicole Enabosi played a crucial role for Nigeria, recording 10 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in an impressive all-round display.
Victoria Macaulay led the scoring with 13 points and posted the highest efficiency rating of 19, while Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah contributed defensively with two blocks and key rebounds.
Guard Ifunanya Okoro also added energy on the court, finishing with two steals and a key layup in the closing stages.
Colombia found it difficult to cope with Nigeria’s physical intensity and pace throughout the game.
Yuliany Paz was the standout performer for the South American side, finishing with seven efficiency points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
Mabel Martinez contributed six points, but the Colombian side failed to sustain momentum after a competitive second quarter.
The victory marked Rena Wakama’s 14th competitive win since her appointment in July 2023, giving her a 77 percent win record from 18 matches.
Her only defeats have come against strong international sides such as Belgium women’s national basketball team, France women’s national basketball team, and the United States women’s national basketball team.
Nigeria have already secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin after winning the Women’s AfroBasket 2025 title.
However, the qualifiers provide an opportunity for the team to test squad depth and refine tactics against strong international opposition.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to their next match against South Korea women’s national basketball team.
D’Tigress will also aim to build on their historic achievement at the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, where they became the first African team to advance beyond the group stage.
