The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, D’Tigress, following the official draw for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, which places the African champions in a formidable Group B.
D’Tigress will face a stern test against the France women’s national basketball team, Hungary women’s national basketball team, and South Korea women’s national basketball team—a lineup widely regarded as one of the most competitive in the tournament.
Reacting to the draw, NBBF President, Ahmadu Musa Kida, described the group as “challenging but inspiring,” while reaffirming Nigeria’s preparedness to compete at the highest level of global basketball.
“At this stage of international competition, there are no easy opponents. Being drawn against top basketball nations such as France, alongside Hungary and South Korea, underscores the level of excellence expected at the World Cup. However, our girls have consistently demonstrated their resolve, discipline, and championship pedigree. We are confident in their ability, and i, personally, I’m confident in their ability to rise to the occasion,” Kida stated.
The expanded 2026 tournament, scheduled to take place in Germany from September 4–13, will feature 16 of the world’s top teams—an increase from previous editions.
Nigeria secured qualification as one of Africa’s leading representatives and was seeded in Pot 2 ahead of the draw. D’Tigress, widely respected for their consistency and dominance within Africa, now face a group that blends elite European structure with the tactical discipline characteristic of Asian basketball.
While France women’s national basketball team enters the competition as one of the highest-ranked sides globally, both Hungary women’s national basketball team and South Korea women’s national basketball team bring technical depth and competitive experience, making Group B a true test of character and quality.
Despite the perceived difficulty, Kida emphasized that the federation views the draw as an opportunity rather than a setback.
“D’Tigress are not new to overcoming adversity. Our journey in recent years has been defined by determination, unity, and a winning mentality. This draw provides another platform to showcase Nigerian excellence, inspire the next generation, and further elevate our status in world basketball.”
The NBBF leadership further reiterated its commitment to ensuring optimal preparation for the team, including high-performance training camps and increased international exposure as part of the build-up to the tournament.
In line with this commitment, the federation has intensified preparations by securing a series of high-profile international friendlies in the United States against top Women’s National Basketball Association franchises as part of the preseason calendar.
The scheduled fixtures include:
April 25, 2026: vs Los Angeles Sparks (San Diego, California)
April 27, 2026: vs Minnesota Lynx (Kansas City, Missouri)
May 2, 2026: vs Indiana Fever (Indianapolis, Indiana)
These games are expected to provide D’Tigress with elite-level competition and valuable exposure against some of the best players and systems in world basketball, serving as a critical component of their preparations ahead of the global showpiece.
