Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, began their 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying campaign with a commanding 70–37 win over Colombia at the Astroballe Arena in Lyon, France, on Wednesday.
Ranked eighth in the world, the African champions were heavily favored against 19th-ranked Colombia and did not disappoint, dominating from start to finish.
Guard Promise Amukamara opened the scoring for Nigeria with a free throw before following up with a layup to give D’Tigress an early lead. Colombia’s Mabel Martinez responded with a three-pointer, but Nigeria held the upper hand, finishing the opening quarter 18–12.
The second quarter saw a more competitive exchange, with Colombia edging the period 17–16. Despite this, Nigeria maintained a 34–29 advantage at halftime.
After the break, D’Tigress took control with a 12–0 run early in the third quarter, outscoring Colombia 19–15 for the period and putting the game out of reach. The Nigerian side continued their dominance in the fourth quarter, opening with a 13–0 run and limiting the South Americans to just three points in the final period while scoring 17, sealing a comprehensive 70–37 victory.
The win gives Nigeria a strong start in the tournament, as the team looks to maintain momentum ahead of their remaining qualifiers.
