By Oluchi Tobex Tobe-Chukwu FSWAN MCS CSS
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, ended their China tour on a high as they defeated the hosts 88-77 in the final game of their exhibition series in Foshan on Wednesday. The victory provided an important confidence boost for the reigning African champions as they continue their preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin.
D’Tigress were led by a superb offensive display from Elizabeth Balogun, who finished the contest with a team-high 26 points. Grace Efosa also made a significant contribution, adding 19 points as Nigeria produced enough firepower to pull away from the Chinese side and secure an 11-point victory. The result was a strong response from the Nigerian team and allowed them to close their Foshan engagement on a winning note.
The victory also underlined the value of Nigeria’s demanding preparation schedule. D’Tigress have been deliberately exposed to high-level opposition ahead of the World Cup, having earlier faced three WNBA teams in the United States, the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever. The American tour was followed by the China assignment, giving head coach Rena Wakama opportunities to assess her players against different styles, systems and levels of competition.
Beyond the result, the Foshan games have given Wakama valuable opportunities to work on the team’s rotation, offensive execution and defensive organisation. Nigeria will need to translate those lessons into consistency when the World Cup begins, particularly after being drawn in Group B alongside France, South Korea and Hungary. Nigeria, ranked eighth in the world, will open their campaign against South Korea on September 4, face Hungary a day later and then take on France on September 7.
The Chinese tour is therefore another significant step in D’Tigress’ lengthy World Cup build-up. Nigeria already secured its place at the tournament as one of Africa’s representatives after retaining the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025. The team will now look to use the remaining weeks to fine-tune its game, improve chemistry and build confidence before the competition begins in Berlin.
Attention now turns to Tenerife, Spain, where D’Tigress are scheduled to continue their preparations with further high-level friendly games. Spain’s national team has confirmed a triangular tournament in Tenerife involving Nigeria and Belgium from August 21–23, providing another major test before the World Cup.
