Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will begin their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign against South Korea on Friday as they return to the global tournament after an eight-year absence.

The Group B encounter is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Nigerian time at the Berlin Arena in Germany, with the reigning African champions hoping to begin their campaign on a winning note.

D’Tigress are entering the tournament with considerable confidence after securing their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025. They also made history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by becoming the first African women’s basketball team to reach the quarter-finals.

However, South Korea presents a serious opening challenge. The Asian side defeated Nigeria 77-60 during the World Cup qualifying tournament earlier this year, giving D’Tigress an added motivation to respond in Berlin.

Nigeria are making their third appearance at the Women’s World Cup, having previously featured in 2006 and 2018. Their best performance came in 2018, when they reached the quarter-finals and finished eighth, becoming the first African team to advance that far at the competition.

Tough Group Ahead

The Nigerian team is in Group B alongside South Korea, Hungary and France, meaning the opening game could be important in determining their route through the tournament.

After facing South Korea, D’Tigress will take on Hungary on September 5 before concluding the group phase against France on September 7.

Head coach Rena Wakama has named a 12-player squad for the competition, with Amy Okonkwo serving as captain. The roster includes experienced players such as Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, alongside younger members of the squad.

Kalu and Amukamara are among the players making a return to the World Cup after appearing for Nigeria at the 2018 edition. Their experience could prove valuable as the team attempts to navigate a demanding group.

South Korea, meanwhile, are one of the most experienced teams in women’s basketball, making their 18th consecutive World Cup appearance. Although they have not reached the quarter-finals since 2010, their recent victory over Nigeria shows they cannot be underestimated.

For D’Tigress, the immediate objective is clear: avoid another slow start and secure a victory that could provide momentum for the difficult games that follow.

With Nigeria already established as Africa’s dominant women’s basketball nation, the World Cup offers another opportunity for the team to prove that its success on the continent can translate into a stronger presence on the world stage.

A victory over South Korea would not only settle the score from the qualifiers but could also provide the confidence D’Tigress need as they pursue a finish beyond their historic eighth-place performance in 2018.