Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress bounced back in style at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, defeating Argentina 68–58 in a spirited 9th–15th place classification clash.
Still reeling from a Round of 16 loss to Hungary, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament found their rhythm and fought hard to notch their first win of the competition — a significant confidence boost for the promising squad.
Leading the charge were Wandoo Marvis Hembam and Nora Ezike, who both posted 17 points apiece in a gritty display of determination and skill. Haminat Ayodeji added 11 valuable points off the bench, while Abigail Isaac and Idubamo Beggi contributed 8 points each, reinforcing Nigeria’s team-first mentality with solid rebounding and hustle.
Though it wasn’t the most polished performance, the Junior D’Tigress displayed composure in the final minutes, closing out the game with strong defense and key baskets.
The win marks a crucial moment in the team’s World Cup campaign and offers a glimpse of the talent and potential being nurtured in Nigeria’s next generation of basketball stars.
