By Jessica Amadi
Nigeria’s D’Tigress will tip off their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign today at 1:30 p.m. WAT against South Korea in Berlin, marking a highly anticipated return to the global stage after missing the 2022 edition. The opening clash also offers a chance for immediate redemption, as South Korea previously defeated Nigeria 77-60 during the qualifying rounds earlier this year.
The African champions arrive in Germany with massive momentum, having clinched a record fifth consecutive AfroBasket title in 2025. They are also riding a wave of confidence following their historic, barrier-breaking run to the quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. For coach Rena Wakama and her squad, today’s opener is all about setting the right tone and reasserting their status among the world’s elite.
Ahead of the crucial tip-off, the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Musa Kida, threw his full weight behind the team, expressing unwavering confidence in their capacity to deliver on the global stage.
“I have absolute trust in the abilities of these players and the entire coaching staff,” Kida stated. “They have repeatedly proven their mettle and shown that they belong among the very best in the world. As they begin this World Cup campaign, the federation and the entire nation wish them well. We are confident they will step onto the court in Berlin and make Nigeria proud once again.”
Navigating Group B will require that exact level of belief and resilience. Alongside South Korea, Nigeria will face Hungary on Saturday, September 5, at 1:15 p.m. WAT, followed by a daunting matchup against a highly-ranked French side on Monday, September 7, at 1:30 p.m. WAT. Under the tournament’s new 16-team format, group winners advance straight to the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams enter a qualification round. A top-three finish is the minimum target for D’Tigress, though winning the group would provide the clearest path forward.
History runs deep on this Nigerian roster. Coach Wakama breaks new ground as the first woman to lead D’Tigress at a World Cup. Veterans Promise Amukamara and Ezinne Kalu join Aisha Mohammed as the only Nigerians to feature at two World Cups, bringing vital leadership after sitting out the 2022 tournament. Furthermore, Victoria Macaulay makes history as the oldest D’Tigress player ever to compete at the World Cup. Supported by dynamic talents like Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun, and Murjanatu Musa, the team boasts a potent mix of youth and experience ready to be tested.
Ultimately, past legacies mean nothing without present results. Today’s game plan is clear: defend with relentless energy, dominate the rebounding battle, take smart shots, and keep the Koreans from controlling the pace. With three crucial group games squeezed into six days, D’Tigress do not have the luxury of easing into the tournament. The quest to make more history starts now, and Nigeria has everything to play for.