Nigeria Senior Women Volleyball Lose to Germany in World Cup Qualifier -

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, suffered a 73–81 loss to Germany in their final game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament held in Villeurbanne, France.

Germany controlled the game from start to finish, leading in every quarter and maintaining dominance for most of the contest.

Despite Nigeria’s resilience, the Europeans gradually widened the gap and sealed victory with a strong finish in the fourth quarter.

D’Tigress showed flashes of brilliance in the second quarter, overturning a six-point deficit with a spirited 10–0 run to take a 31–27 lead.

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Elizabeth Balogun played a key role during that stretch, contributing crucial points to spark Nigeria’s momentum.
However, Germany quickly responded with a 10–0 run spanning the second and third quarters to regain control.

A turning point came late in the third quarter when Nigeria briefly led 49–46, but Germany rallied through a decisive run, converting key scoring opportunities while limiting Nigeria’s offense.

Balogun emerged as Nigeria’s top performer with 15 points, alongside three rebounds and an assist. Despite her efforts, Germany’s efficiency in crucial moments, especially in the closing stages, proved decisive as they capitalised on Nigeria’s missed chances.

The defeat leaves Nigeria with a two-win, three-loss record in the qualifying tournament, having earlier secured wins against Colombia and the Philippines, but falling to South Korea, France, and Germany.

Despite the mixed results, D’Tigress have already qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, courtesy of their triumph at the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket.

The team will now shift focus to preparations for the global tournament, including a historic exhibition match against WNBA side Minnesota Lynx in April,marking the first time an African national team will face a WNBA franchise.