Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, recorded 70-37 victory over Colombia in their opening game of FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament in Villeurbanne, France.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Nigerian side set the pace early in the contest, finishing the first quarter with an 18-12 lead before extending their advantage through disciplined defense and efficient scoring. By halftime, D’Tigress had created a comfortable cushion and continued to pull away in the second half.
Nigeria delivered their most impressive performance in the final two quarters, limiting Colombia’s scoring opportunities while adding crucial points to widen the gap and seal the 33-point win.
Victoria Macaulay led the scoring for Nigeria with 13 points, while Nicole Enabosi recorded a strong all-round display with 10 points and 10 rebounds, completing a double-double. Ifunaya Okoro also added 10 points, with contributions from Ezinne Kalu and Elizabeth Balogun helping to secure the victory.
Although Nigeria already secured an automatic ticket to 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany after winning the African championship, the team is participating in the qualifiers to maintain competitive momentum and improve its global ranking ahead of the tournament.
D’Tigress are scheduled to face South Korea in their next match as the qualifying tournament continues in France.
