Nigeria's seven-time African champions deliver a dominant display in Villeurbanne as coach Rena Wakama extends her winning record to 77 per cent

Nigeria's senior women's basketball team, D'Tigress, have opened their FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup qualifying campaign with a dominant 70–37 victory over Colombia at the Astroballe arena in Villeurbanne, France.

The seven-time African champions delivered a significant performance as they look to sharpen their preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup in Berlin.

Under head coach Rena Wakama, Nigeria quickly set the tone with a first-quarter 18–12 lead before extending their advantage through a methodical display of offensive precision and defensive discipline.

By the second quarter, Nigeria held a 34–29 cushion, and a third-quarter surge saw the lead balloon to 53–34. The fourth quarter was similarly dominant, with D'Tigress maintaining their intensity to close out a 33-point victory.

Nicole Enabosi was instrumental on both ends of the floor for the African champions, pulling down 11 rebounds, providing five assists, and adding 10 crucial points in the paint.

Victoria Macaulay led the scoring with 13 points and topped the efficiency chart at 19, while Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah contributed defensively with two blocks and crucial rebounds.

Guard Ifunanya Okoro complemented the team's attacking rhythm with two steals and a key layup in the fourth quarter.

Colombia struggled to cope with Nigeria's physicality and pace. Yuliany Paz was the only Colombian player to register double figures in efficiency, finishing with a rating of 10, while also leading her team with five rebounds and three blocks.

Mabel Martinez offered six points, but the Colombian side could not sustain any momentum after a competitive second quarter, conceding a 33-point defeat.

The victory marked Wakama's 14th competitive win since her appointment as D'Tigress coach in July 2023, extending her record to 77 per cent victories from 18 competitive matches. Her only losses have come against Belgium, France, and twice against the United States.

D'Tigress already secured their place at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup by winning the Women's AfroBasket 2025 title, but the qualifying tournament provides an invaluable opportunity to test their depth and tactical flexibility against international opposition.

The win sets a positive tone ahead of Nigeria's second qualifying game against Korea on Wednesday.