Nigeria’s D’Tigress have been eliminated from the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup after a heavy 111-56 defeat to France in their final group-stage match in Berlin, Germany.
The result gave the African champions a third straight defeat at the tournament, following earlier losses to South Korea and Hungary. Nigeria consequently finished bottom of the group.
France dominated from the opening quarter, taking a 31-13 lead before extending the advantage to 65-26 by half-time. The gap widened further in the third quarter as France moved 95-36 ahead.
D’Tigress showed some resistance in the final period but could not prevent a 55-point defeat.
The disappointing World Cup campaign comes after a strong run for Nigeria, who had won a fifth consecutive continental title and reached the Olympic quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
The defeat also marked Nigeria’s third appearance at the Women’s World Cup. D’Tigress reached the quarter-finals at the 2018 edition.
Nigeria qualified for the 2022 tournament but did not participate after the Federal Government imposed a self-imposed ban on the country’s national basketball teams, with Mali taking Nigeria’s place.
