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Seven-time African champions, and Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will today (Wednesday) face Colombia as they begin their campaign in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament.
Although Nigeria has secured a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after winning the 2025 AfroBasket Women’s title, Nigeria will have a tough five-game schedule in the tournament that runs from March 11 to 17.
Experts are of the opinion that the qualifying tournament gives teams a chance to test themselves against strong opponents ahead of the global competition scheduled to be held in Berlin, Germany from September 4 to 13.
The match against Colombia takes place at the Astroballe arena with tip-off scheduled for 14.00 local time.
Nigeria arrived in France on Monday and immediately began preparations under the guidance of head coach Rena Wakama, holding their first training session shortly after landing in Villeurbanne ahead of the opening encounter.
Captain Amy Okonkwo leads a 12-player squad that also includes guards Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Sarah Ogoke and Elizabeth Balogun.
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Other players selected for the tournament are Ifunanya Okoro, Murjanatu Musa, Blessing Ejiofor, Nicole Enabosi, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Victoria Macaulay and Rita Igbokwe.
Colombia heads into the tournament as one of three countries making their qualifying debut, alongside Germany and the Philippines, while France is the only team in Lyon-Villeurbanne’s group to feature in the 2022 edition of the World Cup.
The South American team recently moved into the top 20 of the global rankings after climbing 11 places to 19th in the latest update.
The top two teams from the tournament will qualify for the World Cup, joining hosts Germany and AfroBasket champions Nigeria in the global game.
Nigeria previously made history at the 2018 World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, by becoming the first African team to qualify from the group stage.
