Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, delivered a fiercely competitive display but ultimately fell short in a close contest against the host nation, France, ending with a score of 93-86 during the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in Lyon on Sunday.
After a sluggish beginning in the opening half, the Nigerian squad mounted a spirited recovery, dominating the third period with a 21-15 advantage and matching their opponents evenly in the final quarter at 21-20.
Though it wasn’t sufficient to overturn the deficit as the enthusiastic home supporters watched anxiously through the closing moments.
Head coach Rena Wakama expressed immense satisfaction with her players’ efforts, despite the setback, highlighting their resilience in the face of top-tier competition.
“I am super proud of my team. If you want to beat the top teams, you have to be able to capitalise on this type of games,” she remarked.
The match stood out as D’Tigress’s strongest showing in the entire event, underscoring their potential against elite teams.
Wakama acknowledged the quality of both sides, stating, “Obvious credit to the french team, they are a great team and I have a great team too.”
Looking ahead, the coach emphasized the squad’s ongoing development and determination.
“I can assure you that we will continue to grow and continue to learn as we aim towards our ultimate target,” Wakama added, reflecting on the team’s progress.
She further reinforced the internal confidence within the group, noting, “If no one believes us I believe in us and that is one belief we all have in the locker room. So once again, credit to the team.”
Team captain Amy Okonkwo, returning to peak condition following an extended absence due to injury, led Nigeria’s scoring with 16 points and contributed 2 rebounds.
“This is not the first time we are playing France in France. We played them at the Olympics here in France and we have also played them previously before the Olympics,” she shared, discussing the challenge of facing the hosts.
Okonkwo’s performance was particularly noteworthy given her recent recovery, helping keep the game tightly contested throughout.
Additional key contributions came from Elizabeth Balogun and Musa Mujarnatu, each tallying 15 points, alongside Ezinne Kalu who added 14 points to the effort.
Reflecting on handling the intense atmosphere created by the packed crowd at Villeurbanne Sports Arena, Okonkwo explained: “To be fair, we are used to that factor but as a team we know what is expected of us and we know we have to stay together when the crowd are doing their thing.”
She highlighted the team’s unity under pressure, adding, “We keep fighting and sticking with each other and that is what we do always,” underscoring the collective spirit that fueled their near-comeback.
The qualifying tournament wraps up on Tuesday, with D’Tigress set to face another formidable European opponent, Germany—who will host the 2026 Women’s World Cup—in a matchup scheduled for 5pm (Nigerian time).
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