Nigeria’s D’Tigress will face France in their final Group B game at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin on Monday, September 7, with their hopes of advancing already over.

The Nigerian side suffered defeats in their opening two matches, losing 99–81 to South Korea before Hungary secured a 71–67 victory over them on Saturday.

With elimination already confirmed, the France fixture now offers D’Tigress an opportunity to end their World Cup campaign with a win and restore some pride after a difficult start.

Key Takeaways

• D’Tigress have been eliminated from the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after losing their opening two Group B games.
• Nigeria lost 99–81 to South Korea and 71–67 to Hungary.
• France is Nigeria’s final Group B opponent.
• The team’s preparation has attracted scrutiny because Rena Wakama joined the squad only four days before the opening game.
• Wakama missed parts of the preparation because of her commitments with Chicago Sky.
• Assistant coach Wani Muganguzi led the team during its United States warm-up games.
• D’Tigress also continued preparations in China and Spain before arriving in Berlin.
• Wakama pointed to Nigeria’s shooting and free-throw struggles after the defeat to South Korea.
• The supplied material does not establish that any single factor was responsible for Nigeria’s early elimination.

D’Tigress’ World Cup Campaign So Far

Nigeria entered the tournament with hopes of progressing from Group B but quickly found themselves under pressure following two defeats.

Their opening game against South Korea ended in a 99–81 loss, while Hungary followed that result with a narrow 71–67 victory.

The two defeats ended Nigeria’s hopes of progressing from the group, leaving the France encounter as their final opportunity to finish the campaign on a positive note.

The results have also intensified attention around the team’s preparation for the tournament.

Preparation Questions Have Come Under Scrutiny

One of the issues attracting attention is the limited involvement of head coach Rena Wakama during the build-up to the World Cup.

Wakama revealed before the tournament that she only learnt a few days before leaving the United States that she would travel to Berlin, having spent part of the preparation period with WNBA side Chicago Sky.

As a result, she joined D’Tigress just four days before their opening World Cup game.

By then, the team had already completed a significant portion of its pre-tournament programme in the United States, China and Spain.

The situation has raised questions about continuity as Nigeria’s difficult start to the competition has unfolded.

How D’Tigress’ Preparation Unfolded

Wakama’s absence from part of the preparations dates back to April, when the Nigeria Basketball Federation announced that she would miss the team’s United States tour because of her commitments with Chicago Sky.

Assistant coach Wani Muganguzi took charge during the trip and led D’Tigress in warm-up games against WNBA teams Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx.

Nigeria lost 89–63 to the Sparks before producing a stronger performance in an 88–79 defeat to the Lynx, with Muganguzi in charge of both games.

D’Tigress then travelled to China for additional warm-up games before continuing their preparations in Spain.

Wakama was again absent during those stages of the preparation before eventually joining the team in Berlin.

The sequence has become part of the wider discussion around Nigeria’s tournament campaign, although the supplied report does not establish that the preparation situation was the sole cause of the team’s results.

Wakama Reflects On Nigeria’s Difficult Start

Following the defeat to South Korea, Wakama acknowledged the difficulty of the result while pointing to the cohesion of their opponents.

She also highlighted Nigeria’s shooting and free-throw struggles during the game.

“It is tough when your shots weren’t falling. I thought we had great looks in the first half, really good looks. We got to the free throw line but finished the game shooting 12-23 from the free throw line. We just weren’t able to get it done,” she said.

Her comments provide the coach’s perspective on one of the factors behind Nigeria’s opening defeat.

However, the broader questions around the team extend beyond that individual game, particularly with preparation continuity and squad quality and age also attracting scrutiny.

What France Means For D’Tigress

With Nigeria already eliminated, the France game carries a different significance from the team’s opening fixtures.

There is no longer a qualification objective at stake for D’Tigress. Instead, the team has the opportunity to close its Group B campaign with a stronger performance and potentially leave the tournament with a victory.

The game will also provide another opportunity for Wakama and her players to assess themselves against international opposition after a challenging tournament start.

For Nigeria, the immediate task is therefore to finish the World Cup competitively despite the disappointment of an early exit.

D’Tigress And The Wider World Cup Picture

The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup has placed Nigeria among the international field competing at the tournament in Berlin.

D’Tigress’ early elimination means their final Group B fixture against France will not determine their progression, but it remains the final competitive game of their campaign.

The circumstances surrounding Nigeria’s preparations have also added another layer to the team’s World Cup story, particularly because of the limited time Wakama spent with the squad before the opening game.

The available information, however, does not provide enough evidence to attribute Nigeria’s elimination to one specific factor.

Questions About D’Tigress’ World Cup Campaign

Why have D’Tigress already been eliminated?

Nigeria lost its opening two Group B matches, suffering defeats to South Korea and Hungary.

Who will D’Tigress face in their final group game?

Nigeria will face France in their final Group B fixture.

What were D’Tigress’ first two results?

Nigeria lost 99–81 to South Korea before Hungary defeated them 71–67.

When did Rena Wakama join D’Tigress in Berlin?

According to the supplied report, Wakama joined the team four days before their opening World Cup game.

Why has Nigeria’s preparation attracted attention?

Questions have emerged over preparation continuity because Wakama spent part of the build-up with Chicago Sky and was absent from portions of the team’s preparation programme in the United States, China and Spain.

Reader Discussion

D’Tigress now have one final opportunity to end their World Cup campaign on a positive note.

Do you think Nigeria can use the France game to finish the tournament strongly despite the early exit?

D’Tigress may no longer have qualification to fight for, but the France encounter gives Nigeria one final chance to compete strongly and bring a positive conclusion to a difficult World Cup campaign.