France edge Nigeria's D’Tigress in fierce Group A battle
By Maxwell Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, put up a spirited performance but fell 93–86 to hosts France women's national basketball team in a tightly contested Group A clash at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament on Sunday at the Astroballe.
The home side controlled proceedings from the opening minutes, establishing an early lead and maintaining it throughout the game.
Despite several determined surges by Nigeria, France never trailed and eventually closed out the contest with a composed finish.
France’s charge was spearheaded by Janelle Salaün, who delivered an impressive performance with 19 points and five rebounds while shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Valériane Ayayi also made a strong impact, contributing 12 points, six rebounds and recording a team-high +12 plus.
For Nigeria, Elizabeth Balogun led the fightback with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in nearly 35 minutes of action, committing no turnovers while igniting her team’s most productive stretch.
France’s biggest momentum swing came late in the second quarter when they produced a decisive 9–0 run, stretching their advantage from 45–35 to 54–35.
Gabby Williams accounted for six points in that burst, helping the hosts seize firm control.
Nigeria, however, refused to go down quietly. D’Tigress responded with a remarkable 12–0 run bridging the end of the second quarter and the start of the third, cutting the deficit from 57–38 to 57–50, with Balogun leading the charge.
Despite the comeback attempt, France steadied themselves in the final quarter and preserved their advantage to seal the seven-point victory.
Reacting after the game, Nigeria forward Amy Okonkwo praised the fighting spirit of the team.
“It was a long game, it was a well-fought game. I’m really proud of my team for fighting back. We got down a few times but we never gave up,” she said, noting that mistakes at crucial moments ultimately proved costly.
Head coach Rena Wakama also commended the resilience shown by her players despite the defeat, especially after a demanding stretch of games.
“I’m super proud of the fight. It has been a rough three games, but if we want to remain one of the top teams in the world we must capitalize on these opportunities and big moments,” Wakama said, while giving credit to the French side for protecting the home court.
The Nigerian coach emphasized that belief within the squad remains strong, adding that her experienced group of professionals rallied together in the second half.
“If nobody believes in us, we believe in ourselves. That belief in the locker room is what matters,” she said.
Okonkwo also reflected on her return to action following injury, expressing satisfaction at rediscovering her rhythm during the game.
“This game gives me confidence going into the rest of my recovery. I’m thankful to my coaching staff and teammates for the support they’ve given me,” she added.
France led for 39 minutes and 42 seconds of the encounter and built their largest advantage of 19 points twice in the second quarter.
Nigeria mounted several comeback attempts but never managed to take the lead, with the contest tied for just 18 seconds.
In the final crunch-time stretch, France outscored Nigeria 4–0, converting both two-point attempts and securing key rebounds to effectively seal the win.
Despite the loss, Wakama insisted the team remain focused on improvement.
“We’re proud to see a little of the fruits of our labour in this game, but we know we’re not done yet. We still have more in the tank,” she s
aid.
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