The D’Tigress have clawed their path back to winning ways after they mauled the Philippines, 101–84, in their third game at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament.
Nigeria, fresh off a loss to South Korea in their second match, were on the verge of slipping up against another Asian opponent.
The African champions trailed 51–42 at halftime but showed character and attacking intensity to overturn the deficit in the French city of Lyon.Rena Wakama’s team scored 34 and 25 points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to hand Nigeria their second win of the competition.
The result is a huge boost for Nigeria following their 77–60 loss to the Koreans in their second match.
The D’Tigress started the game poorly and trailed 26-21 in the first quarter as the Philippines took advantage of Nigeria’s defensive lapses.
It was a similar story for Nigeria as they lost 25-21 to the Asians in the second quarter. That ensured the Philippines took a 51–42 lead at the break.
But the multiple-time African champions began to show signs of confidence as the match progressed.
The D’Tigress’ turning point came in the third quarter, as their dominance resulted in a 34–21 win.
This was largely in part due to Nigeria’s faster ball movement and improved defensive pressure.
Wakama’s girls continued with the same intensity in the final quarter, winning 25–12 to see out the game in style.Though Nigeria have qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup after winning a historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket title last year, the tournament serves as preparation for the competition billed for Germany later in 2026.
