D’Tigress Fall To South Korea In World Cup Opener

Nigeria’s D’Tigress began their FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 campaign with a disappointing 99-81 defeat by South Korea in their opening Group B match at the Berlin Arena.

The African champions struggled with turnovers and poor perimeter defence as South Korea capitalised on Nigeria’s mistakes to secure a convincing victory.

South Korea proved particularly effective from beyond the arc, sinking 11 of 28 three-point attempts, compared with Nigeria’s six from 20 attempts.

Leeseul Kang was the Koreans’ main threat from long range, knocking down six three-pointers, while Jiyun Park led all scorers with 27 points.

Nigeria’s struggles were compounded by their inability to protect possession. D’Tigress committed 23 turnovers during the game, more than twice South Korea’s 10, repeatedly handing their opponents opportunities to extend their lead.

Amy Okonkwo was Nigeria’s standout performer, finishing with a team-high 20 points, while Murjanatu Musa dominated the boards with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Despite moments of resistance, Nigeria were unable to sustain a comeback as South Korea maintained control through their shooting accuracy and disciplined ball movement.

The result leaves coach Rena Wakama with plenty to address before Nigeria’s second Group B fixture, particularly their ball security and defence against perimeter shooters.

D’Tigress will face Hungary on Saturday at 1.15pm in a crucial encounter as they look to recover from their opening-day setback and keep their campaign on track.