Nigeria’s D’Tigress have been knocked out of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup after suffering a heavy 111-56 defeat to France in their final group-stage match in Berlin, Germany.
The loss handed the African champions their third straight defeat at the tournament, following previous setbacks against South Korea and Hungary.
As a result, D’Tigress finished bottom of their group and brought their World Cup campaign to a disappointing close.
France Dominate From Start to Finish
France established control from the opening minutes, racing to a 31-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Nigeria struggled to contain their opponents as France continued to increase the pressure, taking a commanding 65-26 advantage into halftime.
The French side maintained its dominance after the break, extending the lead to 95-36 by the end of the third quarter.
Although D’Tigress showed greater determination in the final period, the deficit was already too large to overcome. France eventually secured a 55-point victory.
Disappointing End After Recent Success
The World Cup exit represents a setback for a Nigerian team that had enjoyed an impressive run in recent years.
D’Tigress had won a fifth consecutive continental title and also made history by reaching the Olympic quarter-finals for the first time.
However, they were unable to reproduce that form on the global stage, losing all three of their group matches and struggling particularly against France.
The defeat also marked Nigeria’s third appearance at the Women’s World Cup.
Their best performance came at the 2018 edition, where they reached the quarter-finals before their campaign ended.
Nigeria qualified for the 2022 tournament but ultimately did not participate after the Federal Government imposed a self-imposed ban on the country’s national basketball teams. Mali subsequently took Nigeria’s place at the competition.
Despite the disappointing World Cup campaign, D’Tigress’ recent continental and Olympic achievements remain significant milestones for Nigerian women’s basketball.
