Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, Nigeria women’s national basketball team, have begun preparations in France ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2026 scheduled to take place in Lyon from March 11 to 17.
The seven-time African champions arrived in Villeurbanne, Lyon, on Monday and have already started training for the competition. The team confirmed their arrival in France through videos shared on their official social media platforms, showing players participating in their first training session and gym workout.
All 12 players selected for the tournament travelled with head coach Rena Wakama and her assistants as they prepare for their opening match against Colombia women’s national basketball team on Wednesday.
Nigeria will also face South Korea women’s national basketball team on March 12, Philippines women’s national basketball team on March 14, hosts France women’s national basketball team on March 15 and Germany women’s national basketball team on March 17.
The squad features experienced players such as guards Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara, alongside team captain Amy Okonkwo. Other players in the squad include Sarah Ogoke, Elizabeth Balogun, Nicole Enabosi, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa, Pallas Kunayi-Akpanah, Rita Igbokwe, Ifunaya Okoro and Blessing Ejiofor.
Although Nigeria have already secured qualification for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin after winning the Women’s AfroBasket 2025, the qualifying tournament will serve as additional preparation for the global event scheduled for September 4 to 13 in Germany.
In its first power rankings for the 2026 World Cup, FIBA placed Nigeria eighth in the world, reflecting the team’s recent achievements and squad depth.
D’Tigress previously made history at the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain, becoming the first African team to reach the knockout stage after victories over Turkey and Argentina.
After the qualifiers in France, the team will travel to the United States in April for a historic preseason exhibition match against Minnesota Lynx, becoming the first African national team to face a WNBA franchise as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
