KEY POINTS
- D’Tigress beat Colombia 70-37 in their World Cup qualifying opener.
- Victoria Macaulay top-scored with 13 points and an efficiency rating of 19.
- Nigeria face Korea Thursday in their second qualifying game.
Nigeria’s D’Tigress made a statement on their opening night at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament, rolling past Colombia 70-37 at the Astroballe arena Wednesday to launch their campaign in convincing fashion.
The D’Tigress World Cup qualifier performance was authoritative from the first whistle. Nigeria led 18-12 after the opening quarter, pushed the gap to 34-29 at halftime, then turned the game into a rout in the third period, extending the advantage to 53-34. By the final buzzer, the margin was 33 points and Colombia had few answers.
Colombia Couldn’t Match Nigeria’s Physicality
Victoria Macaulay was the standout performer, finishing with a game-high 13 points and the top efficiency rating of 19. Nicole Enabosi did the heavy lifting inside, collecting 11 rebounds and distributing five assists to go with 10 points. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah was disruptive defensively with two blocks, while guard Ifunanya Okoro chipped in two steals and a fourth-quarter layup to keep the scoreboard moving.
The Colombian side managed brief moments of competitiveness in the second quarter but never seriously threatened Nigeria’s control. Yuliany Paz was their most effective player, leading her team with five rebounds and three blocks, though she finished as Colombia’s only player with a double-figure efficiency rating of seven. Mabel Martinez added six points, but the South Americans were ultimately overwhelmed by Nigeria’s pace and interior dominance.
Wakama Extends Impressive Record
The result was head coach Rena Wakama’s 14th competitive win since taking charge in July 2023, lifting her record to 77 percent victories from 18 competitive matches. Her only losses have come against Belgium, France, and twice against the United States.
Nigeria’s place at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin is already secured by virtue of winning the Women’s AfroBasket 2025 title. The five-game qualifying tournament, running through March 17, is also primarily serving as preparation for Berlin, with the top two finishers joining Germany and Nigeria at the World Cup.
The D’Tigress World Cup qualifier run continues Thursday against Korea, where Wakama will look to maintain momentum and rotate her squad with Berlin firmly in sight.
