Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have unveiled a provisional squad ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament scheduled to hold from March 11 to 17, 2026, in Lyon, France.
Head coach Rena Wakama named a balanced squad comprising experienced players and promising young talents as the team prepares to compete against France, Germany, South Korea, Colombia and the Philippines in the qualifying event.
Key players in the provisional list include Amy Okonkwo, Sarah Ogoke, Promise Amukamara and Ezinne Kalu, who bring valuable international experience to the squad. They are joined by emerging talents such as Pius Idubano, Adenike Olawuyi, Grace Efosa, Rita Igbokwe, Wandoo Hemba and Ayomide Tewogbade.
The full roster features Ezinne Kalu, Elizabeth Balogun, Promise Amukamara, Pius Beggi Idubano, Nicole Enabosi, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah, Grace Efosa, Amy Okonkwo, Ayomide Tewogbade, Rita Igbokwe, Ifunaya Okoro, Wandoo Hemba, Adenike Olawuyi, Sarah Ogoke and Blessing Ejiofor.
Nigeria will begin their campaign against Colombia on March 11, before facing South Korea on March 12, the Philippines on March 14, hosts France on March 15, and Germany on March 17.
The top three teams from the tournament will progress to the next stage. Although D’Tigress have already secured automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket, the Lyon tournament will serve as an important preparation platform to fine-tune tactics and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the global showpiece.
Nigeria previously competed at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2006 in Brazil and in 2018 in Spain, and will be aiming to build on that experience as they prepare for the 2026 edition in Germany.
