Nigeria women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, lost 81-73 to Germany in a group phase game at the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in France.
D’tigress showed resilience, briefly taking the lead in the second quarter, but struggled to sustain momentum against a disciplined German side.
The turning point came late in the third quarter after Nigeria led 49-46, before Germany responded with a decisive scoring run. Leonie Fiebich sparked the comeback, combining with Nyara Sabally to shift control of the game.
D’Tigress faltered in the closing stages, failing to convert key opportunities.
Nigeria were restricted offensively during that stretch, allowing Germany to build a lead they maintained until the final whistle.
Elizabeth Balogun led Nigeria with 15 points, including three three-pointers, inspiring a strong second-quarter performance. Germany’s Fiebich posted 15 points, eight assists and four rebounds, while Alexis Peterson added 14 points and eight assists.
Despite the results, the reigning African champions had already secured qualification for the FIBA Women’s World Cup after winning the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 title.
In the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament, D’Tigress recorded victories over Colombia and Philippines women’s national basketball team, but lost to South Korea, France and Germany.
The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup will hold in Berlin, Germany, from September 4th – 13th. The 16-team tournament will take place at the Max-Schmeling-Halle, marking Germany’s second time hosting the championship.
