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 for 11 to 17 March 2026 in Lyon, France.
The seven-time African champions will head into the tournament with a mix of proven internationals and fresh faces, as head coach Rena Wakama continues to shape a side capable of competing with the world’s best.
Nigeria are drawn alongside France, Germany, South Korea, Colombia and the Philippines in what promises to be a demanding qualifying series. The competition offers another opportunity for the team to test its depth and readiness on the global stage.
Among the headline names in the provisional list are Amy Okonkwo, Sarah Ogoke, Promise Amukamara and Ezinne Kalu, all of whom have played key roles in the team’s recent continental dominance.
They are joined by an exciting crop of younger players including Pius Idubano, Adenike Olawuyi, Grace Efosa, Rita Igbokwe, Wandoo Hemba and Tewogbade Mololuwa.
The full provisional roster comprises 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.
D’Tigress will open their campaign against Colombia on 11 March before facing South Korea a day later. They will then take on the Philippines on 14 March, France on 15 March and Germany on 17 March as the group phase concludes.
Only the top three teams will progress to the next round, raising the stakes for every fixture in Lyon.
Although Nigeria have already secured automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin after lifting the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket title, the Lyon tournament is expected to serve as crucial preparation.
The technical crew will use the matches to fine-tune tactics, assess combinations and strengthen on-court chemistry ahead of the main event later in the year.
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will be staged in Berlin in September, with host nation Germany already assured of a place. Australia, Belgium and the United States have also qualified.
Nigeria previously featured at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Brazil in 2006 and Spain in 2018. With memories of those outings still fresh, D’Tigress will be aiming to make a deeper impression when they return to the global showpiece in Germany.
