Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, defeated Colombia 70–37 in their opening game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament in France.
The match, played at the Astroballe Arena in Villeurbanne, Lyon, saw the reigning African champions dominate their South American opponents to secure a convincing 33-point victory and begin the tournament on a strong note.
D’Tigress established early control of the contest, finishing the first quarter with an 18–12 lead. Colombia responded in the second quarter, edging the period 17–16, but Nigeria still entered halftime ahead 34–29.
The Nigerian side then took complete control after the break with a dominant defensive performance. They restricted Colombia to just five points in the third quarter and only three in the fourth, while scoring 19 and 17 points respectively to seal the emphatic win.
Victoria Macaulay led the scoring for Nigeria with 13 points and six rebounds in limited playing time, earning player-of-the-game recognition. Nicole Enabosi contributed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Ifunanya Okoro also added 10 points.
The victory extends the team’s strong run under head coach Rena Wakama, marking her 14th win since taking charge in 2023. D’Tigress, currently ranked eighth in the world, are using the qualifying tournament to sharpen preparations and improve their global ranking ahead of the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Nigeria will face South Korea in their next group match as the tournament continues.
Image Credit: LIB
Source: LIB
