Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have been eliminated from the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup after France defeated South Korea 95-69 on Sunday, ending the African champions’ chances of reaching the knockout stages.
The result left D’Tigress unable to finish above South Korea or Hungary in Group B, regardless of the outcome of their final group match against France.
Even a heavy victory over the French side would not suffice under the tournament’s head-to-head tiebreaker rules if teams end level on points.
France secured their second win in as many Group B games, having previously beaten Hungary. South Korea had earlier defeated Nigeria, strengthening their own position.
Under the competition format, the four group winners advance directly to the quarter-finals, while second- and third-placed teams enter a play-in round. Fourth-placed sides are eliminated at the group stage.
The early exit is a major setback for D’Tigress, who arrived in Berlin with high expectations after dominating African women’s basketball and raising their global profile.
Nigeria’s best previous World Cup performance came in 2018 in Tenerife, Spain, when the team reached the quarter-finals.
With qualification no longer possible, D’Tigress will play for pride in their final Group B encounter against France, aiming to end their campaign on a positive note.
