Nigeria’s D’Tigress began their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign with an 81–99 defeat to South Korea in Berlin. The African champions remained within reach for much of the game but could not match South Korea’s late surge.
Nigeria stayed close through three quarters
South Korea led 26–22 after the first quarter and held a 48–45 advantage at halftime. Nigeria remained competitive in the third period, entering the final quarter six points behind at 68–62.
The decisive gap opened in the closing period, when South Korea combined disciplined ball movement with accurate perimeter shooting to pull away and secure an 18-point victory.
Turnovers and three-point shooting made the difference
South Korea made 11 of 28 attempts from beyond the arc, while Nigeria converted six of 20. D’Tigress also committed 23 turnovers, compared with 10 by their opponents, giving South Korea more opportunities to control the game.
Okonkwo and Musa provide bright spots
Captain Amy Okonkwo led Nigeria’s scoring with 20 points, while Murjanatu Musa collected 13 rebounds. Their contributions kept Nigeria in the contest, but the team could not sustain a comeback against South Korea’s pressure and shooting.
Hungary next for the African champions
Nigeria will face Hungary in their next Group B game. The team’s immediate priorities will include protecting the ball, tightening defence against outside shooters and sustaining its attacking rhythm for all four quarters.
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Conclusion
The opening defeat leaves D’Tigress with clear areas to improve, but the competitive first three quarters offer a foundation for a response. Better ball security and perimeter defence will be central to Nigeria’s attempt to recover in the group stage.
