Nigeria’s junior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, kicked off their 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup journey with a 93-88 win against China in Czechia.
The team rallied from a first-quarter deficit to earn a hard-fought victory in the remaining quarters.
In a thrilling match, D’Tigress surpassed pre-tournament expectations, earning a well-deserved win despite being seen as underdogs.
China came out strong, taking the first quarter 24-16 and putting Nigeria under early pressure.
Nigeria bounced back in the second quarter, outscoring China 22-20 to reduce the gap before halftime.
The third quarter proved pivotal, as Nigeria gained the upper hand with a 23-16 run that swung the momentum in their favor.
In a tense final quarter, they held their ground and closed out the game with a 32-28 finish, securing their first-ever FIBA World Cup victory.
A standout performer delivered a flawless 8-for-8 shooting display, racking up 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in her debut for the national team.
The victory brought back memories of the senior D’Tigress team’s historic run at Paris 2024, where they secured two wins at the Olympics.
That remarkable performance also marked them as the first African team to reach the Quarter-Finals of the Olympic Games.
Nigeria now look to carry this momentum into their next Group B match against Canada on Sunday.
