Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has started intensive training in France ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifiers 2026. The seven-time African champions arrived in Villeurbanne, Lyon, on Monday, as confirmed through their official social media channels. The squad immediately began preparation with gym workouts and on-court training sessions.
All 12 selected players traveled with head coach Rena Wakama and her assistant coaches. Wakama recently concluded coaching duties with Hive Basketball Club in the 3×3 Unrivalled League before joining the national team. Although Nigeria secured World Cup 2026 qualification by winning the Women’s AfroBasket 2025, these qualifiers offer vital preparation for the global tournament in Berlin from September 4 to 13.
D’Tigress will open against Colombia on Wednesday, then face South Korea, the Philippines, hosts France, and Germany in succession. The team includes experienced players like Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, and captain Amy Okonkwo, alongside Sarah Ogoke, Elizabeth Balogun, Nicole Enabosi, and others. Videos from the camp show high spirits as players engage in shooting drills, conditioning, and tactical sessions.
Nigeria aims to maintain momentum, currently ranked eighth in the FIBA 2026 World Cup power rankings. D’Tigress previously made history at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, becoming the first African team to progress past the group stage. Following the qualifiers, the squad will travel to the United States in April to face WNBA franchise Minnesota Lynx in a historic preseason exhibition. Fans are optimistic as D’Tigress prepares to combine talent, experience, and strategy to compete globally.
