The seven-time African champions arrived in Villeurbanne, Lyon, on Monday, sharing their arrival with fans through a video posted on official social media channels. The squad immediately took part in their first on-court session and a gym workout, signaling the start of their preparations for Wednesday’s opening clash against Colombia.
All 12 players selected for the tournament traveled with head coach Rena Wakama and her assistant coaches. Wakama recently completed her coaching duties with Hive Basketball Club in the 3×3 Unrivalled League before linking up with the national team.
Although Nigeria has already secured a place at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin following their triumph at the Women’s AfroBasket 2025, the qualifiers in France will serve as valuable match practice ahead of the global event scheduled from September 4 to 13.
Schedule and Key Players
D’Tigress will open their campaign against Colombia on March 11, followed by games against South Korea (March 12), the Philippines (March 14), hosts France (March 15), and Germany (March 17).
The squad features a mix of experience and talent, including guards Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara, as well as team captain Amy Okonkwo. Other members of the roster are Sarah Ogoke, Elizabeth Balogun, Nicole Enabosi, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa, Pallas Kunayi-Akpanah, Rita Igbokwe, Ifunaya Okoro, and Blessing Ejiofor.
Videos from the team’s training sessions show the players in high spirits as they focus on shooting drills, conditioning, and tactical preparation.
Rising International Profile
Nigeria’s D’Tigress have steadily risen in global rankings, and in the first FIBA power rankings for the 2026 World Cup, the African champions are placed eighth worldwide. The ranking reflects both recent achievements and the depth of the squad.
The team has a history of making breakthroughs on the world stage, notably at the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, where they became the first African team to progress from the group stage after victories over Turkey and Argentina. D’Tigress previously appeared at the global tournament in 2006 in Brazil and 2018 in Spain, and they will aim to build on those performances in Berlin next year.
Following the qualifiers in France, the squad will travel to the United States in April for a historic preseason exhibition against the Minnesota Lynx. This will mark the first time an African national team faces a WNBA franchise, adding another milestone to their preparations for the World Cup.
The team’s current campaign in France will be closely watched as they continue to assert themselves as a rising force in international women’s basketball.